He was involved in a dispute over committee appointments, claiming unfair play by the senate leadership.

[9] Aruwa was a contender to be the ANPP candidate for governor of Kaduna State in 2007, winning the primaries, but the party replaced him with Sani Sha'aban on the list submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

[11] It was reportedly made because his name was included in the list of politicians indicted by Nuhu Ribadu's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

[13] However, the senate did agree with his recommendation to set up a joint committee to review how INEC had managed funds allocated to it for the conduct of the elections.

[14] Speaking to the press in April 2010, Aruwa said that membership of the ANPP by former military ruler Major-General Muhammadu Buhari had done the party great harm.

[16] The funeral was attended by hundreds of mourners including former vice-president Namadi Sambo and governor of Kaduna State Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai.