A public affairs analyst and prominent All Progressives Congress figure, Habib Dawanan, has alleged that Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State is facing pressure to appoint Murtala Garo as his deputy governor.
In a recent statement, Dawanan claimed that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is exerting influence on Governor Yusuf to make the appointment. He described the alleged move as a “direct assault on the rule of law,” warning that elevating Garo to the state’s second-highest office would grant him constitutional immunity and potentially stall ongoing criminal proceedings against him.
Dawanan further criticized the nomination as a “glaring double standard,” particularly in light of the recent resignation of former Deputy Governor Aminu Abdulsalam. He suggested that the move appears to be a “calculated attempt to secure backdoor immunity for the accused,” cautioning that such an action would “ridicule the office of the governor and compromise the integrity of the legislature.”
The analyst urged President Tinubu to refrain from interfering in the governor’s decision-making process, emphasizing that “the soul of governance and sanctity of institutions must remain paramount.” He called for Governor Yusuf to be allowed the independence to choose his deputy without external pressure.
The controversy comes amid political realignments in Kano State, where Governor Yusuf recently switched allegiance from the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The resignation of Deputy Governor Abdulsalam followed this political shift, creating a vacancy that has now become the center of political speculation and debate.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions between executive authority and political maneuvering in Nigeria’s state governance, with implications for the balance of power and the integrity of democratic institutions.
