GOVERNOR Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has named Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo as the new Deputy Governor, following the resignation of Comrade Abdulsalam Gwarzo.
News Point Nigeria reports that Gwarzo’s exit came after a prolonged political rift with the governor, which began when he defected from the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The fallout strained their working relationship, with mounting pressure on the former deputy governor to align with Yusuf pressure he ultimately resisted.
Amid the deepening crisis, the Kano State House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Gwarzo. However, before the process could run its full course, he tendered his resignation. In a dramatic twist, he subsequently dumped the NNPP and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Announcing the development, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, confirmed that Garo had been nominated to fill the vacant deputy governor position.
Garo, a prominent Kano politician, is married to Walida Atiku Abubakar, one of the daughters of former Vice President, ADC chieftain and 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
According to the statement, the nomination was made in line with Section 191(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers a governor to nominate a deputy governor when a vacancy arises.
“Following wide consultations with key stakeholders, the Governor has requested the State House of Assembly to grant the necessary approval for Garo’s nomination,” the statement said.
The government described the 48-year-old nominee as a seasoned political administrator with over two decades of experience in both elective and appointed roles.
Garo has held several key positions, including State Organising Secretary of his party, Special Adviser to the Kano State Governor, and elected Chairman of Kabo Local Government Area.
He also served as Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kano State, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and was the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the APC in the 2023 general elections.
The statement added that his nomination forms part of broader efforts by the Yusuf administration to strengthen governance structures and ensure sustained delivery of public services across the state.
