The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has been plunged into grief and uncertainty following the sudden and mysterious death of its newly elected deputy organising secretary, Abdulsalam Ginsau, in Abuja.
Ginsau, a respected lawyer and rising political figure, was found lifeless inside an elevator at Chida Hotels, where he had lodged ahead of the party’s national convention in the nation’s capital.
What began as a routine political gathering quickly turned into a tragedy that has left party members, family, and authorities searching for answers.
According to party officials, Ginsau arrived in Abuja on Thursday evening as part of the Kano APC delegation and had taken on the responsibility of coordinating accommodation logistics for members attending the convention.
However, concern began to mount on Friday morning when he failed to appear at the convention venue.
The party’s organising secretary, Kabiru Zawaciki, said repeated attempts to reach him proved futile.
“He was supposed to join us at the convention ground on Friday morning, but he was nowhere to be found, and his phone was unreachable,” he said.
A search party was quickly organised. When colleagues accessed his hotel room using a master key, they found it locked from the outside—with no sign of Ginsau inside—deepening the mystery surrounding his whereabouts.
The search took a tragic turn on Saturday when the Nigeria Police Force contacted party officials.
Ginsau’s body had been discovered inside one of the hotel’s elevators.
Zawaciki revealed that the deceased was found lying lifeless on the floor of the lift, with early suspicions pointing to possible suffocation, potentially caused by a malfunction or power outage.
The Kano APC chairman, Umar Haruna Doguwa, confirmed the development.
“We were informed at the police station that an incident had occurred at the hotel. When we got there, we identified the body as that of our colleague,” he said.
Emerging accounts suggest that the elevator may have been defective prior to the incident.
Sources disclosed that several delegates had earlier complained about malfunctioning lifts within the facility. There were also indications that the hotel was overstretched, reportedly accommodating over 1,000 APC delegates in about 150 rooms.
A hotel insider claimed that management had raised concerns about overcrowding but was compelled to proceed with arrangements due to pressure from organisers.
According to the account, Ginsau—who was staying on the third floor—may have entered the faulty elevator in the early hours of Friday, after which it reportedly stalled or failed.
His absence reportedly went unnoticed until the following day, when hotel staff detected a foul odour, prompting a search that led to the discovery of his remains.
Police authorities have since launched an investigation into the incident, with an autopsy expected to determine the exact cause of death.
A police source confirmed that the case was reported on March 28 and remains under active investigation.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain an official response from the hotel management have been unsuccessful, as they declined comment citing the ongoing probe.
Within the party, a committee has been set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The party spokesperson, Auwal Sani Soja, said the APC is working closely with security agencies and the deceased’s family to uncover the truth.
“The party has launched a proper investigation, and we are committed to ensuring that the circumstances surrounding his death are fully uncovered,” he said.
Legal steps are also being initiated against the hotel over alleged negligence, according to Zawaciki.
“The hotel has not provided satisfactory answers. His lawyer colleagues have begun legal action, and we are awaiting the autopsy report,” he added.
Family members described Ginsau’s death as shocking and deeply painful.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Hamza Haladu said the deceased had been in good health before travelling.
“He was full of life. The news of his death came as a complete shock to us,” he said.
Ginsau’s remains have been deposited at the National Hospital Abuja for autopsy and are expected to be transported to Kano for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
Until his death, Ginsau was a prominent legal practitioner, serving as CEO of Ginsau & Sons and practicing at Ginsau & Co. Advocates. An alumnus of the Islamic University in Uganda and the Nigerian Law School, Abuja, he built a reputation in corporate and commercial law, as well as litigation in property, tax, and intellectual property.
Within the APC, he was widely regarded as a strategic mobiliser and trusted legal adviser.
He is survived by two wives and two children.
Mystery Surrounds Death of Kano APC Official at Abuja Hotel
