Kano State’s All Progressives Congress (APC) Legacy Group has nominated Murtala Sule Garo as the state’s new deputy governor designate, following the resignation of Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo in late March 2026. The decision came after a late-night meeting on Sunday that extended until 4 a.m., during which stakeholders evaluated three candidates submitted to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
The three nominees originally put forward were Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, a former state secretary to the government and current head of the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority; Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, a serving House of Representatives member with extensive legislative experience; and Murtala Sule Garo, a former local government chairman, commissioner, and chairperson of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
According to a statement by Magaji Umar Gwammaja, a prominent APC Legacy Group member, the group’s deliberations weighed each candidate’s experience and political alignment. Although Bichi brought decades of administrative leadership and Rurum offered a strong legislative track record, stakeholders ultimately settled on Sule Garo, citing his longstanding service to both the party and the state, as well as his current availability for the role.
The selection now moves to a formal vetting process. Security agencies in Abuja will conduct background checks and integrity profiling before Governor Yusuf consults with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Upon presidential clearance, the governor will forward the nominee’s name to the Kano State House of Assembly for confirmation in line with constitutional requirements.
The appointment marks a significant shift in Kano’s political landscape, coming after Gwarzo’s departure amid disagreements with the governor over party affiliation. The APC Legacy Group’s choice reflects a preference for continuity and party loyalty, setting the stage for the next phase of governance in Kano State.
