Tension has risen in Kano State after lawmakers began moves to impeach Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, following his refusal to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Governor Yusuf recently left the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the APC, a decision that has caused political disagreements within the state government.
But Gwarzo chose to remain in the NNPP and stay loyal to the party’s leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
The situation has led to pressure on the deputy governor from some government officials and lawmakers who believe he should either follow the governor to the APC or step down.
Reports from Kano say members of the Kano State House of Assembly have started discussing impeachment proceedings against Gwarzo because of the political disagreement.
The crisis follows weeks of tension after the governor’s defection.
Several political appointees also resigned during the dispute, showing deep divisions within the administration.
Some government officials have openly asked the deputy governor to resign.
Kano Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, earlier said it would be “honourable” for the deputy governor to step down if he could not align politically with the governor.
However, the deputy governor has so far refused to leave office.
His allies argue that he was elected together with the governor and still has a constitutional mandate to serve the people of Kano State.
Meanwhile, the Kano State House of Assembly has previously denied claims that it already approved impeachment proceedings.
Assembly spokesman Kamaluddeen Shawai said reports of an impeachment were “baseless and misleading.”
He added, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.”
Political observers say the dispute shows growing tensions in Kano politics ahead of the 2027 elections.
