Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin has dismissed his Special Legislative Assistant, Umar Alhassan, widely known as King Indara, over social media posts that carried the phrase "Abba Must Go" against Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. The dismissal was announced on Friday, September 19, 2026, by Senator Barau's Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Shitu Madaki Kunchi.
Reason for Dismissal
Kunchi described Indara's conduct as an act of "indiscipline and disrespect" that conflicted with the values Senator Barau expects from members of his office. The statement read: "Accordingly, we announce his removal from the position of Special Legislative Assistant (SLA) in the office of the Deputy Senate President as of September 18, 2026."
Senator Barau, who represents Kano North in the Senate, said Indara's posts ran against the standards of respect and decorum upheld by his office. He also stressed that the behaviour was inconsistent with the principles of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), of which both he and Governor Yusuf are members.
APC Loyalty Reaffirmed
The Deputy Senate President used the statement to reaffirm his loyalty to the APC and expressed his hopes for the party's success "from top to bottom." The dismissal highlights the friction that sometimes emerges between political aides and the elected officials they serve, particularly where personal social media activity collides with official loyalties.
King Indara's Response
Following the announcement, Indara took to his Facebook page on Friday, September 16, to address the development. In his post, he declared that Kano belongs to Rabiu Kwankwaso, a reference to the leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the political figure widely associated with the governor's own political roots.
Despite the public fallout, Indara maintained that he remains a card-carrying member of the APC. The development underscores the tensions that can arise within political circles when personal social media activity clashes with official party and office loyalties, with the sacking effective as of September 18, 2026.
