The 76th Anniversary of the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU), historically referred to as the Northern Elements People’s Union, was commemorated on Saturday, August 8, 2026, and hosted annually by Bayero University Kano through Mambayya House.
The event featured a lecture series reflecting on the historic political ideology and struggles of the party.
The milestone historic occasion marked the foundation of the proscribed NEPU on August 8, 1950.
The theme of the lecture, translated into Hausa vernacular as “KWADAYI MABUDIN WAHALA: WAIWAYE AKAN AKIDUN NEPU DA DARUSSA AKAN ZABEN 2027,” means: “Greed is the key to trouble: Looking back at the NEPU ideologies and lessons for the 2027 elections.”
Reflecting on the historical background of its foundation in 1950, NEPU was founded on August 8, 1950, at Sabon Gari Quarters in Kano Metropolitan City by Northern nationalists, with a core vision spearheaded by notable figures, including the late Mallam Aminu Kano of blessed memory.
The movement championed the emancipation of the common people, the Talakawa, against autocratic rule and colonial marginalisation.
The significance of NEPU was recognised as Northern Nigeria’s first radical political party, establishing an ideology centred on democratic humanism and social justice.
Key political leaders and founders included the late Mallam Aminu Kano, the iconic leader, visionary and ideological anchor of NEPU, who took over its leadership in 1953 and later founded its Second Republic successor, the People’s Redemption Party (PRP).
The late Alhaji Muhammad Danjani Hadejia and Alhaji Illa Ringim were also at the forefront of the NEPU vanguard and made remarkable contributions in their original jurisdictions of Hadejia and Ringim Emirates respectively.
At the women’s wing of the NEPU emancipation struggle was the late Hajiya Gambo Sawaba from Zaria, Kaduna State.
Late Hajiya Gambo Sawaba was a fearless feminist, prominent radical organiser and leading female figure of NEPU who faced frequent imprisonment for her activism and struggles for women’s and commoners’ rights.
Another prominent NEPU frontline member, poet and literary writer was the late Mallam Sa’adu Zungur. He was a socialist poet and intellectual whose radical political thoughts and anti-colonial ideas heavily inspired the formation of NEPU.
Also prominent was political stalwart and nationalist Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, a founding member and long-serving high-ranking officer who acted as the Deputy Chief Scribe or Secretary of NEPU.
Alhaji Mudi Speaking was a radical socialist poet and key youth organiser in Kano who played a fundamental role in the internal dynamics and ideological messaging of early NEPU.
Another historic founding young architect of NEPU in Kano was Mallam Magaji Dambatta.
The notable Kano group of core founding members formed part of the early leadership of the movement. It would be recalled that NEPU was originally midwifed and launched by a group of young leftist radical activists in Kano in 1950.
Aside from Dambatta, Spikin and Yakasai, the core foundational members included Abba Maikwaru, Bello Ijumu, Babaliya Manaja, Musa Kaula, Abdulkadir Danjaji, Musa Bidda, Mallam Albatan and Yarima Balla.
From Hadejia Emirate, in the old Kano State, Alhaji Ali Abdulkadir Hadejia was among the young NEPU radical group members during the party’s heyday.
No wonder, the old-generation stalwarts of the party remembered and pencilled down the name of Alhaji Ali Abdulkadir Hadejia for invitation to participate in the recent 76th edition anniversary ceremony of the party, which he graciously honoured.
Haruna Aliyu Hadejia
Atafi Communications, Abuja
GSM: 08037879435
Email: harunaaliyuhadejia406@gmail.com
