Kano State’s political landscape has been thrown into fresh uncertainty after the Kano State House of Assembly was asked to suspend any move to screen Murtala Garo for the deputy governor position pending the outcome of a legal challenge.
The request came in a letter dated April 15, 2026, signed by Suleiman Mohammed & Co., solicitors for Kuliyya Muhammad Salihu and two others. The lawyers informed the Speaker of the Assembly that their clients have already filed a suit—referenced as K/360/2026—before the Kano State High Court against the House of Assembly and three other parties. They argue that the matter is now sub judice, and any action by the legislature could prejudice the judicial process.
Murtala Garo, former speaker Kabiru Rurum, and managing director of the Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority Rabiu Bichi were shortlisted by the Ganduje-Barau APC faction. Although Governor Abba Yusuf has yet to forward a formal nomination, intense lobbying has been underway among the candidates.
The lawyers urged the assembly to stay all proceedings concerning the deputy governor appointment until the court resolves the dispute. The letter was copied to the Clerk of the House and bears a receipt stamp confirming its delivery.
The development adds a new legal dimension to an already tense political stalemate in Kano, where consultations and behind-the-scenes negotiations have intensified. With the case now before the courts, the timeline for filling the vacant deputy governor slot remains unclear, and the assembly’s next steps will likely be shaped by the pending judicial outcome.
