Dare Babalola
Governor Abba Yusuf has forwarded the nomination of Murtala Garo to the Kano State House of Assembly for confirmation as deputy governor.
The move follows the resignation of former deputy governor, Aminu Abdussalam, on March 27, after weeks of political manoeuvring within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the governor’s media aide, Mustapha Muhammad, confirmed that the nomination has been transmitted to the Assembly for screening and approval.
He noted that the action aligns with constitutional provisions empowering a governor to fill a vacant deputy governorship position.
“The position became vacant following the voluntary resignation of the former Deputy Governor on March 27, 2026,” the statement read. “Following wide consultations with key stakeholders, the governor has requested the Assembly to grant the necessary approval for Garo’s nomination.”
Garo previously served as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under former governor Abdullahi Ganduje. He was also the running mate to the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate, Nasiru Gawuna.
His nomination comes 26 days after the deputy governorship seat became vacant, amid strong competition from other political figures, including former Secretary to the State Government, Rabiu Suleiman, and House of Representatives member Kabiru Alhassan Rurum.
Political insiders suggest Garo’s emergence may be linked to efforts to balance interests within the APC, particularly following Mr Gawuna’s recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), weeks after Governor Yusuf joined the APC from the NNPP.
Meanwhile, Garo has faced scrutiny over alleged involvement in financial mismanagement alongside Mr Ganduje, relating to funds reportedly earmarked for local governments. He was also previously linked to a 2019 electoral controversy involving the disruption of result collation in Kano.
During that election, tensions escalated at the Nasarawa Local Government collation centre, where results were reportedly tampered with, prompting intervention by security agencies.
The incident contributed to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s decision to declare the poll inconclusive, leading to a supplementary election that ultimately returned Ganduje as governor.
