In a significant political development, a group of former local government chairmen in Kano State have thrown their weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's bid for a second term in office. The officials, who served under the administration of former Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje between 2014 and 2024, also publicly reaffirmed their unwavering loyalty to Ganduje as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Public Endorsement and Party Solidarity
The group's position was disclosed by Baffa Takai, a former chairman of the Kano State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON). Takai made the revelation during a closed-door meeting with APC stakeholders held in Abuja on 16 December 2025.
In a statement issued from the meeting, the former council bosses expressed solidarity with party stakeholders operating under the leadership of Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi. They commended these stakeholders for their efforts in promoting cohesion and driving organisational growth within the APC's ranks in Kano.
The statement further contained a call to action, urging other party members to join them in fostering peace, unity, and progress. The group collectively reaffirmed their commitment to the APC's ideals and pledged to work together to strengthen the party and ensure its success in forthcoming elections.
Simmering Tension: The Hisbah Executive Order
This show of political support comes against the backdrop of a recent executive order issued by the incumbent Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf. The order, issued just days prior, prohibits the funding and operation of an independent Hisbah police group linked to the former National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Ganduje.
Governor Yusuf directed the state police command and the Directorate of State Services (DSS) to arrest and prosecute any individual or group presenting themselves as members or leaders of this independent Hisbah. The directive, officially titled the “Kano State Prohibition of Hisbah Fisabilillah Order 2025”, was announced to take immediate effect.
Unlawful Recruitment and Government's Stance
The state government's action was prompted by reports that Dr. Ganduje, through his foundation, had commenced recruitment for 12,000 members of an independent security outfit in the state. Recruitment forms were reportedly being issued by Baffa DanAgundi, a former Managing Director of the Kano Road Transport Agency under Ganduje's administration.
DanAgundi had described the initiative as an effort to provide opportunities for those allegedly displaced by the current government's reforms of the official Hisbah Board. He stated it was intended to operate as a voluntary, non-political religious enforcement group.
However, the state government, through the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Waiya, declared such recruitment and mobilisation unlawful. Briefing journalists, Waiya stated that the creation of parallel enforcement structures constitutes an act capable of disturbing public peace and undermining the statutory functions of the lawful Hisbah Board.
The commissioner warned that any person who violates the order will face prosecution under laws covering unlawful assembly, impersonation of lawful authorities, or the establishment of unauthorised security groups. The order explicitly prohibits the formation, mobilisation, training, or deployment of any body under the name of Independent Hisbah Fisabilillahi.
