Kano Tension Deepens as Commissioner Warns Deputy Governor to Resign Over APC Defection
… Impeachment Option in Discussion
The political atmosphere in Kano State has grown increasingly charged following a public call by the state government for Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, to resign if he is unwilling to align with the new political direction of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
On January 29, 2026, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, openly advised the deputy governor to step aside should he choose not to follow the governor into the All Progressives Congress (APC). Waiya made the remarks during a live political programme on Muhasa Radio, arguing that divergent political loyalties at the highest level of government pose a serious challenge to effective governance.
According to the commissioner, the offices of governor and deputy governor are built on a joint political mandate and a shared vision. He maintained that once that unity is compromised, sustaining trust becomes difficult. “A joint ticket means a joint journey,” Waiya said during the broadcast. “If one party decides to take a different direction, the honourable thing to do is to step aside.”
The rift between the governor and his deputy followed Governor Yusuf’s decision to defect to the APC on January 26, 2026. Elected in 2023 on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and backed by the influential Kwankwasiyya movement, Yusuf said his defection was a strategic move aimed at ensuring political stability in Kano State and strengthening collaboration with the Federal Government, which is controlled by the APC.
The defection marked a major political realignment in Kano, long regarded as a stronghold of the Kwankwasiyya movement led by former governor and NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. While Yusuf crossed over to the APC, his deputy, Gwarzo, chose to remain in the NNPP, reaffirming his loyalty to Kwankwaso.
This divergence has now brought internal tensions within the Kano State Government into the open, raising questions about loyalty, trust and the sustainability of the current power arrangement. Waiya’s comments on Muhasa Radio represent the first time a senior government official has openly suggested that the deputy governor should resign.
“How do you build trust when you are not sure where your deputy stands politically?” the commissioner asked. “The Executive Council is a sensitive space. If there is suspicion about loyalty, it affects decision-making and weakens governance.”
Waiya stressed that his remarks were not intended as a threat but as advice in the interest of stability, warning that remaining in office while opposing the governor’s political direction could create friction and paralyse government operations.
Signs of the growing rift are already evident within the state administration. Several political appointees believed to be loyal to Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya movement have reportedly resigned their positions, either in protest or in anticipation of further political fallout.
Among them is the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr Yusuf Ibrahim Kofarmata, whose resignation has been widely interpreted as an indication of deepening divisions within the government. Sources within the administration say more resignations may follow as political realignments continue.
Beyond calls for resignation, speculation is mounting over the possibility of impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor should he refuse to step aside. Reports suggest that lawmakers loyal to Governor Yusuf and the APC in the Kano State House of Assembly may be exploring constitutional options to remove Gwarzo from office.
Although no formal impeachment process has been announced, political analysts note that such a move would be contentious and could further polarise the state. Any impeachment would require substantial legislative backing and strict adherence to constitutional procedures, but the shifting political balance in the assembly following the governor’s defection could make the scenario increasingly plausible.
Meanwhile, names of potential replacements for the deputy governorship position are already circulating in political circles. One of the prominent figures mentioned is Murtala Sule-Garo, the APC’s deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 elections and a known ally of the party’s leadership in Kano.
The unfolding drama has drawn mixed reactions across the state. Supporters of Governor Yusuf describe his defection as a pragmatic step to secure federal support and fast-track development, insisting that unity at the top of government is essential. Conversely, loyalists of the Kwankwasiyya movement argue that the call for Gwarzo’s resignation is an attempt to silence opposition, noting that the deputy governor was elected by the people and has a constitutional right to complete his term.
Analysts warn that prolonged tension between the governor and his deputy could distract from governance, slow policy implementation and erode public confidence in the administration.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication with Second Class(Upper Division) at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
