A new twist in the ongoing crisis within Nigeria’s ruling New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has emerged, as Governor Abba Yusuf has moved two senior civil servants in a reshuffle that appears to deepen the rift between him and key members of the party.

Aminu Kura, the Permanent Secretary for Special Duties in the Office of the Deputy Governor, and Ibrahim Kabara, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, were both removed from their positions. While Kabara was transferred to the Ministry of Special Duties, Kura was moved to the Office of the Head of Service, albeit without a specific portfolio.

In a bid to fill the gaps, Governor Yusuf appointed Sadi Ibrahim as the new Permanent Secretary for Special Duties in the Office of the Deputy Governor and Musbahu Badawi to take over the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. Additionally, Aminu Kabara and Jamilu Muhd were reassigned to the Office of the Head of Service for further adjustments.

At face value, the reshuffling of these civil servants could be seen as a routine administrative realignment. However, insiders suggest that the move is tied to the escalating political crisis within the party, particularly the growing tensions between Governor Yusuf and his deputy, Aminu Abdussalam, who also serves as the commissioner for Local Government. The governor’s decision to exclude his deputy from the reshuffle process has sparked speculation that it signals a further deterioration in their working relationship.

The tensions between the governor and his deputy have been aggravated by recent events, including a drug procurement scandal involving Novomed, a pharmaceutical company owned by Musa Garba Kwankwaso, a relative of Rabiu Kwankwaso, the national leader of the NNPP. This controversy has led to further divisions within the party, with some sources indicating that the reshuffle may be an administrative maneuver by Governor Yusuf to reduce his deputy’s influence over local government affairs.

Sources also suggest that some of the officials who were removed could be implicated in the Novomed scandal, which is under investigation by the Kano State Anti-Corruption and Public Complaint Commission.

In a circular dated November 4, 2024, signed by Umar Jalo, the Permanent Secretary for Establishment at the Office of the Head of Civil Service, the governor’s office announced the reassignment of new permanent secretaries and several directors in various ministries.

The political situation remains fluid, and efforts to reach a spokesman for the governor, Sanusi Dawakintofa, for comment were unsuccessful at the time of writing.