Musa Lawal Daura

Career intelligence officer. He joined the National Security Organisation (NSO) in 1982; when the NSO was split in 1986 its domestic arm became the State Security Service (SSS), where he stayed and rose to the rank of Director. He served at various times as State Director of Security in Kano, Sokoto, Edo, Lagos, Osun and Imo States (dates and order not found; the Osun posting was after the state was created in 1991), and from 2003 to 2007 was Deputy Director of the Presidential Communication, Command and Control Centre at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He retired in 2013 on reaching the statutory age of 60 (the exact day was not found). He was recalled as Director-General in July 2015 (separate record).

Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS, also called the Department of State Services), from 2 July 2015 to 7 August 2018. President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him with immediate effect on 2 July 2015, recalling him from retirement, in place of Ita Ekpenyong (a second statement the same day called him "acting" Director-General). As DG he was named as a respondent in several rights suits over detentions by the service (see legal records). On 7 August 2018, hours after masked SSS operatives blockaded the National Assembly complex in Abuja, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo terminated his appointment with immediate effect, directed him to hand over to the most senior officer (Matthew Seiyefa acted), and had him handed to the police for questioning; the dismissal was never reversed. Daura said the deployment was within his powers and based on intelligence, and in a September 2026 television interview said he needed no authority for it and did not regret it. No charge against him was found (see legal records).

Named chairman of the Security and Intelligence Committee (Commodore Mohammed Barau, rtd, deputy) when Senate President Ahmad Lawan's campaign organisation for the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 presidential ticket was announced on Thursday 2 June 2022, with Orji Kalu as Director-General. The role ended when Lawan lost the APC presidential primary in June 2022. No APC membership record for Daura was found.

INEC final list of candidates (Presidential), published 2026-09-12 — SN 7; INEC name: MUSA LAWAL DAURA; age 73; male; qualification (as declared to INEC): FSLC GCE B.A (HONS) ABU ZARIA Running mate to Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State. Makinde unveiled him on Thursday 13 August 2026 at the APM national convention at Rilwanu Adamu Square, Bauchi, four days after Daura left the ADC. He replaced the first nominee, Ibrahim Adamu Bala of Bauchi, who had been on INEC's nomination portal from about 13 July 2026 and on its display of candidates' particulars of 1 August 2026, and who withdrew by a letter dated 5 August 2026 with a Section 31 affidavit. The day INEC received the substitution was not found. INEC's age of 73 and declared "B.A (HONS) ABU ZARIA" match the former SSS Director-General. Poll day is 16 January 2027.