When Audu Maikori appeared on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics this week, the transition from music executive to aspiring legislator appeared complete. The lawyer and Chocolate City founder, who spent decades architecting Nigeria’s modern creative industry, has confirmed he is pivotting toward the House of Representatives for the 2027 elections. His message to the Zango Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency is a rejection of the status quo: he argues that the era of “political palliatives” must end to make way for actual economic architecture.
Maikori’s entry into the race coincides with a period of significant “surgery” for Nigeria’s electoral framework. During the interview, he expressed firm support for the latest amendments to the Electoral Act 2026—specifically the clause barring dual membership of political parties ahead of primaries.
To bridge the historical disconnect between the legislature and the electorate, Maikori proposed a governance model based on transparency rather than patronage. He plans to move away from what he calls “politics of the inner chamber” by implementing quarterly town hall meetings and real-time digital dashboards. This would allow constituents to track project spending in a region—Southern Kaduna—that has often felt abandoned by the centre.
The core of his platform targets a shift from temporary relief to sustainable growth. Maikori was unsparing in his critique of the “handout” culture that traditionally defines election cycles, where bags of rice often substitute for policy.
Instead, he intends to leverage the natural strengths of his constituency.
Beyond agriculture, Maikori identified gender inclusion as a primary pillar of his legislative agenda, noting the severe underrepresentation of women in the current National Assembly.
He illustrated the link between development and safety by citing a recent road project along the Zonkwa axis, describing how physical infrastructure can dismantle criminal “hot spots” that have historically ravaged Zango Kataf.
Maikori’s vision for the “creative economy”, a term he pointedly prefers over “entertainment”, is similarly data-driven. Despite the global explosion of Afrobeats, he noted that the sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP remains significantly low, at approximately 0.33%. He believes the solution lies in a rigorous overhaul of the Intellectual Property (IP) regime.
The conversation took a sharp personal turn when addressing his history as an activist. Maikori, who famously won a legal battle against the former Kaduna administration following a controversial arrest, remains a staunch advocate for the rule of law. He revealed that the ₦40 million awarded to him in the Federal High Court, a judgment currently at the Supreme Court, will be repurposed for those trapped in the system.
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