Haruna Garba Magashi may not command the same headlines as his presidential running mate, Omoyele Sowore, but he has spent years fighting his own battles for justice. A Kano-based lawyer and human-rights advocate, Magashi has built his career defending others’ rights and challenging a system he believes has failed too many Nigerians.
Now making another bid for the vice presidency on the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC), he hopes to take that fight beyond the courtroom and into government. But who is the man behind the political ambition, and what does he believe he can bring to the country’s leadership?
In this conversation with Konye Nwabogor, Magashi discusses his journey from law to politics, the challenges facing northern Nigeria, his partnership with Sowore and the kind of vice president he hopes to become. He also shares a little about his life away from politics and the courtroom.
You’ve built a career as a lawyer and human-rights advocate. What first drew you into politics, and was there a particular experience that convinced you that you needed to do more?
What first drew me to politics was my strong desire for positive change and my conviction that we cannot continue to complain about a broken system while refusing to participate in fixing it.
There are two contradictory arguments that are common in Northern Nigeria. The first is that anyone who wishes to preserve their honour, dignity, and integrity should stay away from Nigerian politics because of the dishonourable practices associated with it. The second is that good people have no moral right to complain about bad leadership when they have refused to participate in the political process. As the popular argument goes, good people abandoned politics, creating room for bad people to take over.
These two arguments made me reflect deeply on the kind of society we want to build. I came to the conclusion that we cannot continue to entrust our collective future to people whose values and actions we disagree with, while expecting them to deliver the change we desire. If we want a different kind of politics, people with integrity, courage, and a genuine commitment to the public good must be willing to participate.
However, I also believe that joining politics is not enough; the platform and the people one associates with matter just as much. I do not believe that someone can simply join a political camp whose values contradict his convictions and expect to transform it without compromising those convictions in the process.
That is why I chose to align myself with Mr Omoyele Sowore, whose political ideals, courage, and commitment to challenging the status quo resonate with my own convictions.
For me, entering politics is not about abandoning my identity as a lawyer or human-rights advocate. Rather, it is an extension of that commitment. I believe that defending people’s rights and pursuing justice should not be limited to the courtroom or public advocacy. We must also be prepared to engage with the political system that shapes people’s lives.
Ultimately, I joined politics because I believe that meaningful change requires more than criticism from the sidelines; it requires the courage to step forward, participate, and be part of the solution.
You are running alongside Omoyele Sowore for the second time. What do you think makes your partnership work, and what do you personally bring to the ticket?
I believe a strong political partnership is built when two people from different backgrounds come together, united by a common vision, shared values, and a determination to achieve the same goal. That, to me, is the foundation of my partnership with Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore is a man who refuses to accept that meaningful change is impossible in Nigeria. He believes that ordinary Nigerians possess the capacity to take responsibility for the affairs of their country and that governance should serve the interests of the people rather than a privileged few. His belief in the power of the masses resonates deeply with my own convictions.
As a lawyer and human-rights advocate, I have spent years engaging with ordinary Nigerians, particularly the less privileged, and witnessing their struggles, aspirations, and determination to live better lives. I have seen that the problem is not that Nigerians lack the desire or capacity to succeed. Rather, what many of them lack is a fair opportunity, an enabling environment, and leadership that genuinely believes in their potential.
I believe that is where our visions converge. Sowore brings his longstanding commitment to political activism and challenging the status quo, while I bring my legal experience, human-rights background, and understanding of the realities confronting ordinary people, particularly in Northern Nigeria. Our partnership is not about our individual ambitions, it is about advancing a common cause.
Personally, I see my role as much more than that of a running mate. I see myself as a voice, a bridge, and a source of inspiration for millions of young people in Northern Nigeria who have become disillusioned with a political system that has failed to deliver the promise of a better life.
Coming from the North, I understand the frustration of young people who watch their region struggle with poverty, insecurity, unemployment, and educational deprivation despite its enormous human and economic potential. I want my participation in this political journey to demonstrate that the future of the North does not have to be determined by a small circle of political elites. Ordinary people have the right and the capacity to participate meaningfully in deciding their own future.
For too long, many of our people have been treated as instruments of political mobilisation rather than citizens whose interests, rights, and aspirations deserve to be respected. My aspiration is to encourage Northern youths to rise above political apathy, reject the politics of dependency, demand accountability, and reclaim their rightful place in the governance of their communities and country.
I also bring a perspective that is rooted in the conviction that political transformation must go hand in hand with justice, respect for human rights, and the rule of law. We cannot build a truly democratic society if citizens are denied their rights, institutions are weakened, and public resources are managed without accountability.
Running together for the second time reinforces my belief that our partnership is about consistency of purpose. We understand that transforming Nigeria is not an easy task, and that meaningful change requires courage, sacrifice, and sustained commitment.
Ultimately, what I bring to the ticket is the voice and experience of a lawyer, the convictions of a human-rights advocate, and the determination to inspire ordinary Nigerians, particularly Northern youths, to believe that they are not condemned to be spectators in their own country. They have a right to lead, a right to demand accountability, and a right to build a Nigeria that works for everyone.
The vice presidency is often seen as a supporting role. If elected, what would you want to be remembered for achieving in that office?
I do not subscribe to the notion that the Vice President is merely a spare tyre, waiting to be used only when the President is unavailable. The Nigerian Constitution clearly defines the responsibilities of the Vice President, and I believe the office has significant potential to contribute to national development when its responsibilities are approached with commitment, vision, and a genuine concern for the people.
If elected, my approach would be to discharge my constitutional responsibilities faithfully, support the President in implementing our shared vision, and contribute meaningfully to rebuilding Nigeria into a country that works for all its citizens.
However, beyond the constitutional duties and the protocols of the office, I want to be remembered for something much more important: being a Vice President who gave the ordinary Nigerian a sense of belonging in the affairs of the nation.
I want the common man, the struggling market woman, the subsistence farmer, the unemployed graduate, and the young entrepreneur to look back at my time in office and say that, for once, somebody in the highest levels of government understood their struggles and worked to improve their circumstances.
I also want to be remembered for contributing to meaningful economic reforms that translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives. Economic reforms should not merely produce impressive figures on paper; they must create jobs, stimulate local businesses, improve purchasing power, reduce poverty, and give young Nigerians a genuine opportunity to succeed through their hard work.
Another area I consider particularly important is the reform of our justice system. Having spent 22 years in the legal profession, I understand the difficulties that ordinary Nigerians encounter in accessing justice. I would want to use the opportunities available within the office to support reforms that make justice more accessible, affordable, efficient, and responsive to the needs of the people. Justice should not be a privilege reserved for those who can afford it; it must be a right that every Nigerian can realistically enjoy.
Above all, I would want my legacy to reflect the principle that public office is a responsibility to the people, not a privilege for the officeholder. The Vice President must be willing to listen, engage, contribute ideas, and work collaboratively to achieve the government’s objectives while remaining conscious of the promises made to Nigerians.
At the end of my tenure, I want to be remembered not simply as a man who occupied the office of Vice President, but as a man who used that office to improve lives, strengthen institutions, expand opportunities, and restore the confidence of ordinary Nigerians in their country.
That, to me, would be a legacy worth leaving behind.
Nigerians have heard countless promises from politicians over the years. What makes your own approach to leadership different, and why should people believe you would deliver?
First, I believe Nigerians have every right to demand accountability from those who seek their votes. A campaign promise is not a favour a politician does for the people. It is a commitment made to the people in exchange for their mandate. When politicians repeatedly make promises and fail to fulfil them, they undermine public confidence, breed cynicism, and create the impression that political leadership cannot be trusted.
The problem is not that Nigerians have stopped believing in the possibility of a better country. Rather, years of unfulfilled promises have made many people understandably sceptical about those who seek public office. When leaders repeatedly betray the trust of the people, they create an atmosphere of uncertainty and hopelessness. We must change that culture.
What distinguishes our approach is that we are not coming into politics as people who have enjoyed the privileges of political power and are now seeking another opportunity to perpetuate the same system. Our political engagement is rooted in a longstanding struggle for a better Nigeria and a belief that government must serve the people, not exploit them.
Mr Omoyele Sowore has spent years challenging the status quo and advocating for the rights and interests of ordinary Nigerians, often in circumstances where doing so has come at a personal cost. His political activism reflects a sustained commitment to demanding accountability from those in power. Our partnership is built on the conviction that Nigeria needs a fundamental change in the way governance is approached.
For me, however, the issue goes beyond making promises or asking Nigerians to trust us simply because of what we say. Trust must be earned through consistency, transparency, accountability, and demonstrable commitment to the public good.
If given the opportunity to serve, we must be prepared to explain not only what we intend to achieve but also how we intend to achieve it, the resources required, and the results Nigerians should expect. We must establish clear priorities, set measurable targets, and subject our performance to public scrutiny. Where we encounter difficulties, we must be honest with Nigerians rather than conceal our failures behind excuses.
I also believe that leadership requires the courage to make decisions in the public interest, even when those decisions are politically inconvenient. We cannot promise Nigerians a better country while continuing to protect the interests of a privileged few at the expense of the majority.
Ultimately, Nigerians should judge us not merely by our speeches or campaign slogans but by our records, our principles, our consistency, and the seriousness of our plans.
We are not asking Nigerians to trust us blindly. We are asking them to examine our convictions, assess our records, scrutinise our proposals, and hold us accountable for every commitment we make.
My belief is that public trust is not secured by the promises a politician makes before an election, but by the integrity with which those promises are pursued after the election. That is the standard of leadership I believe Nigeria deserves, and the standard by which I would want to be judged.
Away from politics and the courtroom, who is Haruna Magashi? What do you enjoy doing, and what is something about you that might surprise people?
Away from politics and the courtroom, Haruna Magashi is a very simple man. I enjoy living among ordinary people, relating with them freely, and treating everyone with dignity, regardless of their social status. I have never believed that one’s profession, position, or achievements should make one feel superior to others. I value mutual respect, and I believe that every human being deserves it.
One thing that might surprise people is that I am not much of a talker. My mother used to say that I could spend hours in a room full of siblings and relatives without uttering a word. I think Mr Sowore has also observed this about me. But there is a difference between being quiet and having nothing to say. When a matter demands my contribution, I can speak at length and with conviction. I prefer to listen, observe, and think before I speak.
One of the things that gives me the greatest joy is helping people solve their problems. There is a special kind of happiness that comes from knowing that someone is smiling because you were able to make a difference in their life. It does not always have to be something big. Sometimes, a little assistance, a piece of advice, or simply being available when someone needs you can mean a great deal. I find genuine fulfilment in such moments.
I am also a sportsman, particularly a squash player. I enjoy the game because it challenges both the body and the mind. Beyond sports, I value anything that contributes to a balanced and meaningful life.
At home, I see myself as an active member of the family, not someone whose responsibilities end outside the house. I support my wife in her business, help my three children with their studies, and participate in other household chores. The only place where I readily admit defeat is the kitchen! I have not quite mastered the art of cooking, so that responsibility is one area where my wife still has the advantage over me.
Another thing I enjoy immensely is reading. I have a circle of friends who share my passion for books, and we often engage in discussions around what we read. I can get so absorbed in a book that I lose track of time. I also value books as gifts. To me, giving someone a book is giving them an opportunity to discover new ideas, broaden their understanding, and see the world differently.
Finally, I enjoy making friends and maintaining relationships. I believe that human connections are among life’s greatest treasures. The people we meet, the ideas we exchange, and the experiences we share all contribute to who we become.
If there is one thing I would want people to know about Haruna Magashi, it is that beneath the identity of a lawyer, human-rights advocate, and politician is an ordinary family man who enjoys simple living, loves books, values friendship, and finds his greatest satisfaction in making life a little better for someone else. I believe that is the essence of who I am, and it is the same spirit I try to bring into my professional and public life.
