Concerned stakeholders in Kano State have written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to refrain from influencing the process of appointing a new Deputy Governor for the state.
The letter, dated April 7, 2026, expresses fears over alleged pressure on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to nominate an individual currently facing multiple corruption charges.
The group described the development as troubling, warning that such a move could undermine democratic principles and the rule of law.
The stakeholders further alleged that the candidate being promoted by former APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, is a co-defendant in ongoing corruption cases involving the Kano State Government. They noted that the state had already initiated legal proceedings backed by documentary evidence and recalled the recent resignation of former Deputy Governor Abdulsalam Gwarzo over similar allegations.
According to them, appointing another individual facing prosecution would amount to double standards and weaken ongoing anti-corruption efforts.
They also warned that elevating a defendant to the position of Deputy Governor could effectively stall judicial proceedings due to constitutional immunity, describing it as a “backdoor” attempt to evade justice.
The group called on the President to allow the governor to independently choose a suitable deputy, stressing that interference could create political tension in the state and damage public trust in the administration’s anti-corruption stance.
Read the complete letter below:
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
State House, Abuja.
Your Excellency,
We write to you as a collective of patriotic stakeholders and concerned citizens of Kano State, motivated by a profound sense of civic duty and an unwavering commitment to the integrity of our democracy.
We are observing with keen interest the ongoing deliberations regarding the appointment of a new Deputy Governor for Kano State, and we are compelled to bring to your attention the grave implications of certain reports currently circulating within the political sphere.
There are persistent and troubling rumours suggesting that the Presidency may be exerting significant pressure on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to nominate an individual for the Deputy Governorship who is currently facing multiple and serious corruption charges.
It is imperative to bring to your attention a detail of which you may not be fully aware: the candidate being promoted by the former National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, is a co-defendant alongside Dr. Ganduje himself in these same cases.
There are active criminal proceedings instituted by the Kano State Government in competent courts of law, backed by substantial documentary evidence.
The precedent for accountability in this administration has already been set. Before the sudden resignation of the former Deputy Governor, Comrade Abdulsalam Gwarzo, which was necessitated by a petition submitted to the State House of Assembly regarding corruption charges to the tune of approximately ₦2 billion, the Assembly had formally demanded that he defend himself.
Rather than engage the members, he chose to resign. To now recommend another individual whom the state is actively prosecuting across multiple courts would be, to say the least, a glaring act of double standards.
The pressure being mounted for this specific nomination appears to be nothing more than a calculated attempt to secure a form of “backdoor immunity” for the accused.
By elevating a co-defendant to the office of Deputy Governor, the ongoing trial would be effectively paralysed, as the individual would then be shielded by the constitutional immunity afforded to that office.
Such a move would be a direct assault on the rule of law and an affront to the judicial process. It would not only ridicule the person of the Governor but also compromise the integrity of the legislators and the APC as a party.
Your Excellency, we cannot ignore the striking parallel between these local developments and the commendable steps your administration is taking at the federal level to ensure accountability.
We note the vigour with which your government is investigating high-ranking former officials, including the likes of Abubakar Malami, SAN, and His Excellency, Nasir El-Rufai.
To then turn around and compel a state governor to elevate an individual facing similar scrutiny to the second-highest office in the state would create an irreconcilable double standard.
It is our sincere opinion that Your Excellency should allow the Governor to nominate whoever he feels comfortable working with as his Deputy Governor.
Beyond the moral and legal implications, there is a significant political risk. In a state like Kano, where the ADC is preparing a formidable opposition, mounting pressure to nominate Dr. Ganduje’s candidate will invite immense internal friction and provide the opposition with potent ammunition to challenge the administration’s credibility.
The good people of Kano State, and indeed all Nigerians who believe in the rule of law, would be forced to rethink their perception of your administration’s stance against corruption. We urge you to allow the internal processes of Kano State to unfold without external interference that favours political expediency over judicial integrity.
The soul of our governance and the sanctity of our institutions must remain paramount.
We trust in your wisdom.
E-signed
Habib Musa Dawanan, a Kano citizen and frontline member of the APC, lives at 801 Yakasai Quarters, Kano City.
7th April, 2026
