FORMER Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Wednesday declared that only the Supreme Court can determine the fate of Muhammadu Sanusi II in the protracted Kano emirship dispute, insisting that any eventual ruling would be binding on all parties, including the Kano State Government.
News Point Nigeria reports that Ganduje’s remarks came amid renewed controversy surrounding the Kano throne following conflicting claims and ongoing legal battles over the emirship tussle, which has continued to attract national attention as political and traditional stakeholders weigh in on the matter.
The immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress was reacting to reports alleging that he had endorsed Sanusi as Emir of Kano and Chairman of the Kano State Council of Chiefs.
In a statement signed by his former Commissioner for Information and Chief of Staff, Muhammad Garba, Ganduje dismissed the reports as a misinterpretation of events.
According to the statement, Ganduje’s reference to Sanusi by his traditional title during the swearing-in ceremony of the Deputy Governor was merely in line with established protocol and should not be construed as an endorsement.
“It is important to clarify that what happened was simply an expression of respect in a public gathering. It should not be misconstrued as an endorsement,” he said.
The former governor stressed that the emirship matter remains sub judice and cautioned against public comments capable of prejudicing the ongoing judicial process or amounting to contempt of court.
Ganduje recalled that the Court of Appeal had earlier directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending the final determination of the dispute by the Supreme Court.
“The subsisting legal position recognises Aminu Ado Bayero as the 15th Emir of Kano and Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 14th Emir, pending the final judgment of the Supreme Court,” he explained.
He further maintained that he lacks the constitutional authority to endorse or reject any claimant to the emirship throne, noting that the issue rests squarely with the judiciary and, ultimately, the Kano State Government in terms of implementation.
The former governor’s comments reflect the delicate relationship between traditional institutions and legal authority in Nigeria, where chieftaincy disputes frequently intersect with politics and governance.
Ganduje also faulted sections of the media for amplifying what he described as a routine act of courtesy, insisting that the situation had been exaggerated.
“The interpretation being given to the remark is clearly exaggerated. I urge all parties to exercise restraint and await the Supreme Court judgment which is expected to deliver in April next year,” he said.
The Kano emirship dispute remains one of the most high-profile traditional institution crises in recent years, with stakeholders awaiting the Supreme Court’s final pronouncement expected to decisively settle the contest over the ancient throne.
Muhammadu Sanusi II was reinstated as the 16th Emir of Kano in May 2024 following the removal of Aminu Ado Bayero after Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf signed the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024.
The law repealed the Kano State Emirates Council Law of 2019 and dissolved the emirate councils created under the previous administration.