A lokacin da marigayi Malam Umaru Musa 'Yar'Adua ya shiga siyasa ya yi hannun riga da mahaifinsa wanda a wancan lokaci yake mataimakin shugaban Jam'iyar NPN, inda shi kuma ya zama wakili a jam'iyar PRP ta Malam Aminu Kano mai adawa da NPN. A lokacin da Janar Babangida ya kaɗa gangar siyasa ya zama sakataren jam'iyar SDP a jihar ta Katsina kuma ɗan takararta na gwamna, amma kuma ɗan takarar jami'iyar NRC na wancan lokaci Malam Saidu Barda ya kada shi. To sai dai a 1999 Malam Umaru Musa 'Yar'Adua ya tsaya takakarar muƙamin gwamnan jihar ta Katsina kuma ya samu nasara a ƙarƙashin jam'iyar PDP, haka kuma ya sake nasara a zaɓen 2003.