Former Commissioner for Local Government, Hon. Murtala Sule Garo, has emerged as the leading contender for the vacant position o...
Former Commissioner for Local Government, Hon. Murtala Sule Garo, has emerged as the leading contender for the vacant position of Deputy Governor of Kano State, following what insiders describe as overwhelming support from the “old bloc” of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sources privy to a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf indicate that Garo secured approximately 90 per cent endorsement from party leaders and influential figures present at the gathering. The meeting, according to those familiar with its proceedings, was part of ongoing efforts to consolidate party unity and strengthen governance structures in the state.
The development comes in the wake of the resignation of former Deputy Governor, Abdussalam Aminu Gwarzo, which created a vacancy the administration is now seeking to fill through consultations within key political blocs.
At the meeting, the governor formally requested the APC’s old bloc to nominate three credible individuals for consideration. In compliance with this directive, stakeholders submitted the following names: Hon. Murtala Sule Garo, Hon. Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, Managing Director of the Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority and Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, Member representing Rano/Kibiya/Bunkure Federal Constituency
Sources emphasized that the submission of three names was strictly in response to the governor’s request and does not suggest any form of division within the bloc.
Despite the inclusive nomination process, deliberations at the meeting reportedly produced a near-consensus in favour of Garo, who secured about 90 per cent support from attendees.
Prominent stakeholders said to have endorsed his candidacy include former Kano State Governor and ex-APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Former Deputy Governor and Former Minister of State for Housing, Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo; Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila; Hon. Mariya Bunkure, Minister of State FCT; Senator Garba Lado; APC stalwart AA Zaura; former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly and current Member of Dambatta Makoda Federal Constituency Hamisu Chidari;House of Representatives member, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Hon. Abdulhamin Jibrin Kofa, Hon Abdullahi Sani Rogo, Hon Abubakar Kabir Bichi among many others.
Stakeholders attributed their support to Garo’s extensive political experience, administrative competence, and deep grassroots network across Kano State.
During the meeting, Doguwa reportedly highlighted Garo’s political trajectory, noting that he served as Organising Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007, Special Adviser during the administration of former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and later as elected Chairman of Kabo Local Government Area, where he also rose to become Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kano State.
Following the formation of the APC in 2014, Garo became its pioneer State Organising Secretary in Kano, before serving two consecutive terms as Commissioner for Local Government from 2015 to 2023. He was also the party’s deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 elections.
Sources at the meeting clarified that the inclusion of Bichi and Rurum was in line with the governor’s directive and not indicative of rivalry.
Stakeholders noted that both men currently occupy significant public offices and are actively contributing in those capacities. Retaining them in their roles was therefore considered necessary to avoid creating additional vacancies in governance.
In contrast, Garo who does not presently hold public office following the 2023 elections was widely viewed as best positioned to assume the deputy governorship without disrupting existing institutional arrangements.
Political observers suggest that Garo’s potential emergence could strengthen internal cohesion within the APC in Kano State and enhance governance stability.
With consultations concluded, attention now turns to the governor’s final decision likely within the coming, which is expected to reflect both political and administrative considerations in shaping the state’s leadership going forward.
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