Speculation over the planned defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has revived anxieties around the long-running Kano emirate crisis involving Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.
Political sources say the rumoured move has heightened tension in the state, not only between rival political camps but also within the traditional institution, where unresolved legal and political disputes have left Kano deeply divided.
Reports state that, Yusuf’s alleged defection was among the issues discussed during his closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu earlier this week. The governor is said to have fixed a fresh date to leave the NNPP after several postponements, a development that has unsettled supporters of his political mentor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
The emirate crisis dates back to 2020 when former governor Abdullahi Ganduje dethroned Sanusi and installed Ado Bayero following changes to the emirate law. The decision was widely criticised and polarised the state along political and traditional lines.
After assuming office in 2023, Yusuf repealed the law, restored the single Kano Emirate and reinstated Sanusi, directing Ado Bayero to vacate the palace. While Sanusi’s supporters welcomed the move, critics described it as executive overreach, and tensions have persisted.
Ado Bayero later returned to Kano under heavy security protection and took up residence at the Nassarawa mini palace, while challenging his removal in court. Since the Court of Appeal ordered caution pending Supreme Court determination, the matter has remained unresolved.
Analysts warn that Yusuf’s defection to the APC could alter the fragile balance. Some fear it may weaken Sanusi’s position, while supporters of Ado Bayero see a possible opening for renewed legal and political manoeuvring.
Speaking on Arise Television, Arise News Politics Editor, Sumner Sambo, cautioned that the defection could deepen the crisis and pose security risks, describing the situation as one with “two power centres,” with Sanusi seen as the “state emir” and Ado Bayero as the “federal emir.”
Public affairs analyst Nduka Odo said the fate of both emirs now appears tied to political alignment between state and federal authorities, lamenting what he described as a systemic failure that allows politics to dictate the survival of traditional institutions.
Meanwhile, the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN) blamed the judiciary for failing to decisively resolve the dispute, warning that the continued existence of rival emirs undermines governance and threatens stability in Kano State.
