On July 1, 1957, Yabagi Yusuf Sani was born in Nigeria. He is currently the National Chairperson of the Action Democratic Party and is frequently referred to as YYSani, Jakardan Nupe, or the “Ambassador of Nupe” (ADP). He stood for president in Nigeria’s general elections in 2019 and 2023.

Sani was raised in Bida, where he attended East School Bida for his early education before continuing at Technical College Kontagora in 1970. He received degrees from the New York Institute of Technology and Harvard University in 1976. He graduated from Columbia University in 1978 with a B.Sc. in management engineering.

Yabagi began serving as an administrative officer and depot manager for Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in Kano in 1980. (PPMC Depot). Sani started pursuing his political goals in 1991. He was also a founding member of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), serving on its board of trustees (ANP).

In 1999, Sani ran for governor of Niger State on the All Peoples Party ticket (APP). In 1993, while serving as the NLC/financial NRC secretary, he also served as Alhaji Bashir Tofa’s North Central presidential coordinator.