The planned defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf to the All Progressives Congress, APC, has reignited anxieties around one of Nigeria’s most sensitive traditional disputes – the lingering tussle between Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.
There are indications that the rumoured move threatens to reopen old wounds in the northwest state where power, tradition and politics are tightly intertwined.
This is even as the defection speculation has also reportedly deepened political tension within Kano State, triggering strains between supporters of the Kano Governor and loyalists of his political mentor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a key figure in the NNPP.
We reported that the defection move was one of the reasons the governor met with President Bola Tinubu behind closed-doors on Tuesday.
DAILY POST learnt that Yusuf has fixed another date for defection from the NNPP to the ruling APC after a series of postponements.
Recall that the Kano emirate crisis dates back to 2020, when then Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress dethroned Sanusi and later installed Ado Bayero following the passage of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024.
The move was widely criticised as politically motivated and deepened divisions within Kano.
We reported that when Gov Yusuf assumed office in 2023 under the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, his administration repealed the emirate law, restored the single Kano Emirate and reinstated Sanusi, while Ado Bayero was asked to vacate the palace.
The decision, hailed by Sanusi’s supporters as corrective justice, was condemned by others as executive overreach, with tensions within the Kano Emirate remaining high since then.
However, Bayero, refusing to relinquish his claim to the throne, returned and took up residence at the Nassarawa mini palace in Kano under heavy security protection, while legally challenging his removal by the state government.
Since March when the Court of Appeal in Abuja directed all parties in the Emirship tussle, to exercise caution pending the hearing of their appeals at the Supreme Court, nothing has been heard about the matter.
We reported that it is against this fragile backdrop that Governor Yusuf’s alleged plan to join the APC has triggered fresh concern.
For some in Kano, Yusuf’s defection would represent not just a political realignment, but a potential reversal, or at least a weakening, of the forces that restored Sanusi to the throne.
This is even as supporters of Ado Bayero, who continue to regard him as the legitimate Emir of Kano, see the rumoured defection as an opening for renewed legal and political contestation.
On the other hand, Sanusi’s loyalists worry that the Emir, already a polarising figure, could once again become vulnerable to political headwinds if the balance of power shifts.
Some watchers also believe that any move that appears to blur Yusuf’s earlier alliance with NNPP leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso further complicates the equation, given Kwankwaso’s central role in Yusuf’s emergence and in the restoration of Sanusi.
Yusuf’s rumoured APC defection could expose Kano emirs, trigger security crisis — Sumner Sambo
Speaking about the matter recently, Sumner Sambo, Editor for Politics at Arise News, warned that the rumoured defection of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the All Progressives Congress, APC, could deepen the emirate crisis in the state and pose serious security risks.
Sambo made the remarks on Monday while speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he expressed concern over the position of both Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, amid shifting political alliances.
He stated that the ongoing situation had effectively created two power centres within the Kano emirate, with Ado Bayero being perceived by some as a “federal Emir,” while Sanusi is viewed as the “state Emir.”
According to Sambo, a defection by Governor Yusuf to the APC could further weaken Sanusi’s position, particularly in terms of security.
He noted that Sanusi currently lacks formal police protection and relies largely on local vigilantes for security, warning that this could become more dangerous if political dynamics change.
Sambo also cautioned that the development could create fresh challenges for the leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, especially if the APC decides to revisit its earlier stance on the Kano emirship.
He said there were concerns that the APC might seek to reinstate Ado Bayero as Emir of Kano, a move he warned could trigger serious security challenges and political fallout in the state.
Sambo urged federal authorities to exercise caution in their political dealings in Kano, describing the state as politically volatile.
Sambo’s words: “And the major thing that is here in Kano is that I don’t envy the two Emirs who are there. Some people have been calling them the federal Emir, that’s Emir Ado Bayero; he’s being called the Federal emir, while Sanusi Lamido is called the state Emir.
“Now imagine if Governor Yusuf moves to the APC, and Sanusi Lamido is actually left bare naked, because he doesn’t have police protection, and all of that is, you know, it is vigilantes that have been guarding him.
“Now, if Kwankwaso sees what is going on there, there’s going to be a huge challenge to him. And you see, don’t forget, the APC may likely go back to what it intended to do previously, and which is to restore Aminu Bayero back to the Kano emirship. And if that happens, it will be a huge security challenge, including the, you know, fallout of the APC movement.
“And so let the federal authorities be careful of the sort of politics that they are playing in Kano, because Kano can be politically volatile, and let’s see how we don’t increase the political tempo of the country as we head into 2027.”
Emirs Sanusi’s fate hangs on balance — Analyst
On his part, a public affairs analyst and communication expert at Peaceland University, Enugu, Nduka Odo, said that the fate of the two rival Kano emirs could be determined by the political relationship between the state and federal governments, particularly if Governor Abba Yusuf defects to the All Progressives Congress, APC..
Speaking in an interview with DAILY POST on Thursday, Odo said a possible defection by Yusuf would further expose what he described as Nigeria’s systemic failure, where the survival and relevance of traditional institutions depend largely on political interests.
According to him, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II could either maintain his current relevance or be politically sidelined, depending on the alignment between the state and federal authorities.
He added that Emir Aminu Ado Bayero could also see his situation significantly improve under such political realignments.
Odo said the emir who eventually benefits would be the one able to make himself valuable to both the state and federal leaderships.
He criticised the judiciary for failing to conclusively resolve the lingering emirship crisis over the years, noting that the uncertainty has allowed political actors to influence the fate of revered traditional stools.
Odo said: “If Governor Yusuf defects to APC, it’ll confirm what I’ve said somewhere before: in this country, we have a system problem. The fate of the two emirs hinges on the relationship between leaders of the state and federal governments. Emir Sanusi could remain as relevant as he is now. He could be relegated.
“Emir Bayero, on the other hand, could see his fate turned around.
“The Emir who will benefit from the defection is the one who plays his cards well. Either who offers himself valuable to both leaders at federal and state levels.
“The court has been in the position to settle the dust over the years. Still, it didn’t. That’s why I said that it is a systemic problem. If we had functional systems, high placed traditional stools wouldn’t be thrown into chaos, and their existence would be dependent on the mood and caprice of political leaders. We need better functional systems that can guarantee everyone what rightfully belongs to them without the need to pander to political office holders.”
Blame judiciary – Rights Group
Similarly, the President of the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), Olu Omotayo, blamed the prolonged Kano emirate crisis on what he described as the failure of the judiciary to act decisively on a matter affecting the state’s security and stability.
Speaking to DAILY POST, Omotayo said the dispute, which has lingered for nearly two years, reflects systemic weaknesses within Nigeria’s judicial system.
He questioned why courts have taken so long to resolve what he called a sensitive and urgent issue with direct implications for peace in Kano State.
According to him, the delay raises concerns about access to justice for ordinary citizens, noting that if a matter of such importance can be prolonged, it offers little hope for the common man seeking redress through the courts.
Omotayo also criticized the existence of two emirs in Kano, describing it as an abnormality that undermines governance.
He maintained that regardless of political developments, including any potential defection by the state governor, the courts have a responsibility to act.
Omotayo said: “This is a matter that has been going on for almost two years. It still boils down to the type of judiciary we have in this country.
“Why does it take so long to resolve such a sensitive matter? Why does it take the court so long to decide a matter that is of utmost importance in a particular state, particularly when it affects the security of the state. You cannot overlook the fact that the issue affects security and stability in Kano State.
“The problem is still with the judiciary we have. The matter has been unnecessarily prolonged. So what’s the hope for the common man, when such a matter that is of utmost importance is taking so long to decide.
“This shows that this country needs total reorganization, total reformation, because if we have a good judiciary this could have been resolved in one way or the other.
“How do you have two emirs in Kano? That’s why we have three arms of government. The judiciary should not be subservient to the federal government.
“Whether the governor defects or not, the judiciary has a role to play which I think they are afraid, and they have disappointed Kano people by not taking a decision.”