Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has sworn in Murtala Sule Garo, a former political rival who opposed his election bids in 2019 and 2023, as his new deputy governor. The move comes after the resignation of former deputy governor Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, who lost his position after refusing to defect with the governor to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Political Survival Strategy
Political analyst Riyaudeen Zubairu Maitama of Bayero University Kano described the appointment as a classic example of how Nigerian politicians prioritize political survival over ethics. Speaking in an interview with Legit.ng, he stated that the governor's calculation reflects a focus on protecting his interests and securing victory in the upcoming 2027 elections.
Maitama explained that the governor recently left the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and abandoned his political godfather, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, along with the structure that brought him to power. He now needs a strong political background to mobilize grassroots support within the APC, and Murtala Sule Garo is one of the party's most effective mobilizers.
Garo's Role in Past Elections
The analyst recalled that during the 2019 and 2023 elections, Garo actively worked against the governor's victory. In 2019, Garo was accused of mobilizing thugs to disrupt the collation process, leading to an inconclusive governorship election. Maitama noted that the governor now requires a reliable figure to handle the rough aspects of politics and mobilize supporters.
"Elections in Kano traditionally revolve around politicians who command large armies of youth and thugs. These groups protect votes when their candidate leads or disrupt the process to deny the opposition an edge," Maitama said.
Emerging Political Alignments
Maitama stressed that the governor's search for victory justifies any method, including aligning with former opponents to confront new adversaries such as ex-godfather Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and former APC gubernatorial candidate Nasiru Gawuna. He noted that a counter-alignment is already forming, with Gawuna realigning with Kwankwaso to build a new front against the governor in the 2027 election.
The analyst emphasized that the lesson from this realignment is that politicians always prioritize their interests, and victory legitimizes any approach they employ, whether legal or illegal, logical or illogical.
Kano Divided as Kwankwaso Joins NDC
Previously, Rabiu Kwankwaso's defection to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caused deep divisions among his supporters in Kano. Some loyalists insisted they would follow Kwankwaso wherever he goes, while others accused him of frequent party switching and weakening the Kwankwasiyya movement.
