The Kano State House of Assembly has begun impeachment proceedings against the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office and breach of public trust.
The move was announced on Thursday during plenary when the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Lawal Hussaini Dala, presented a notice of allegation against the deputy governor.
The sitting was presided over by the Speaker of the Assembly, Ismail Falgore.
The impeachment move comes at a time of growing political tension in the state following the recent defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
While presenting the notice on the floor of the Assembly, Dala said the action was taken in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999).
According to him, Section 188 of the Constitution gives a state legislature the power to begin impeachment proceedings against a governor or deputy governor if they are accused of gross misconduct.
Dala said the Assembly had received allegations that Gwarzo abused his office and violated public trust while he served as Commissioner for Local Government in the state between 2023 and 2024 before becoming deputy governor.
The notice presented before the lawmakers claimed that the deputy governor collected illegal payments from the 44 local government councils in the state during that period.
According to the document read during plenary, Gwarzo allegedly received kickbacks of N1.5 million every month from each of the 44 local government councils between June 2023 and January 2024.
The Assembly said this amounted to about N66 million per month and a total of about N462 million during the seven-month period.
Lawmakers also alleged that between February and July 2024, the deputy governor received additional payments of N3.255 million per month from each local government council.
They claimed that the money was collected under the claim that it was meant for special assignments carried out on behalf of the councils.
The Assembly said the total amount allegedly received during that period was about N726 million.
In addition, the notice accused the deputy governor of facilitating the release of N10 million from each of the 44 local government councils to a company identified as NovoMed Pharmaceuticals Limited.
According to the lawmakers, the payment, which amounted to about N440 million, was allegedly made in violation of the Kano State Public Procurement Law and other financial regulations guiding the management of public funds.
The Assembly described the actions listed in the notice as serious misconduct and a breach of the ethical standards expected of public officials.
Following the presentation of the allegations, Speaker Falgore directed that a formal notice be served on the deputy governor in line with the constitutional procedure for impeachment.
Under Nigeria’s Constitution, once such a notice is issued and supported by at least one-third of the members of a state assembly, the affected official must be informed and given the opportunity to respond to the allegations.
If the Assembly proceeds further, a panel may be set up to investigate the claims and present a report to the House.
If the allegations are confirmed and supported by a required majority of lawmakers, the Assembly can remove the official from office.
However, if the panel clears the official of wrongdoing, the impeachment process ends.
The impeachment move is taking place during a period of political realignment in Kano State.
In recent weeks, the state’s political environment has been shaken by the decision of Governor Yusuf to defect from the NNPP to the APC.
The move surprised many political observers because Yusuf was elected governor in 2023 on the platform of the NNPP.
The party is strongly linked to the political movement known as the Kwankwasiyya movement, led by former Kano governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Kwankwaso, who was the presidential candidate of the NNPP in the 2023 general election, remains one of the most influential political figures in Kano State.
Yusuf’s defection has therefore created divisions within the state government and the ruling political structure.
Following the governor’s decision to join the APC, several members of the Kano State Executive Council resigned from their positions.
The former commissioners said they chose to step down because they remained loyal to the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya political movement.
Among those who resigned were Ibrahim Umar, a retired Air Vice Marshal who served as Commissioner for Internal Security and Special Services; Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development; and Yusuf Ibrahim Mata, Commissioner for Science and Technology.
Others included Adamu Kibiya, Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, and Nasiru Sani Garo, Commissioner for Special Projects.
Despite the governor’s move to the APC, Deputy Governor Gwarzo reportedly refused to defect with him.
Sources within the state’s political circles say the deputy governor chose to remain with the NNPP.
His decision has added another layer to the political tension within the state.
For now, the next stage of the process will depend on how the Assembly proceeds after serving the notice to the deputy governor.
If the process continues, an investigative panel may soon be set up to examine the allegations and determine whether they are supported by evidence.
The development has attracted wide attention across Kano State and beyond.
Many residents are closely watching how the Assembly handles the matter, especially because impeachment proceedings involving a deputy governor are relatively rare in Nigeria’s political system.
Civil society groups and political observers have called for transparency and fairness in the process.
They say the Assembly must ensure that the constitutional procedure is strictly followed so that the outcome will be seen as credible.
