The Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, has publicly called on Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo to resign, saying that continuing in office while politically misaligned with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf undermines effective governance.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf recently defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), triggering significant political realignment within the Kano State Government.
Several commissioners and political appointees have resigned following the governor’s move, deepening the realignment within the state executive.
The deputy governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has remained loyal to the NNPP after the governor’s defection, drawing debate on whether a deputy governor should maintain a different party affiliation from the governor after election on a joint ticket.
Speaking to journalists in Kano on Thursday, Commissioner Waiya said it would be inappropriate for the deputy governor to continue in office while belonging to a different political party from the governor.
He stressed that unity and shared political direction are essential for coordinated governance within the executive arm of government.
“The system of a governor and deputy governor is one ticket; they move together,” Waiya said, noting that continued political division could weaken administrative cohesion and effectiveness.
Waiya argued that political alignment between a governor and deputy governor reflects the mandate given by the electorate, implying that divergence in party allegiance could erode confidence in joint leadership.
He said that if the deputy governor does not agree with the governor’s new political direction, resignation would be the most responsible action.
The commissioner also linked the governor’s defection to broader state developments, suggesting that unified governance under a single party could help resolve ongoing issues, including matters involving traditional leadership structures.
The call for the deputy governor’s resignation highlights tensions within Kano’s political leadership following the governor’s defection. If such calls gain broader support, they may intensify pressure on the deputy governor to bow to political realignment or step aside, potentially reshaping the state executive council.
This situation also underscores the constitutional and political complexities that can arise when elected officials on a joint ticket pursue divergent political affiliations mid-term.
Legal experts have noted that the mandate given to a governor and deputy governor at election reflects a shared platform that may influence expectations of continued alignment, though constitutional provisions do not automatically require resignation upon defection.
The Kano State Commissioner for Information has urged Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo to resign if he does not align with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s political shift to the APC.
The call reflects mounting political pressure within the state government as realignment continues and officials navigate implications of divergent party affiliations.
