The swearing-in of Murtala Sule Garo represents a definitive realignment in Kano State politics, cementing the state’s pivot from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC).
This transition is more than a simple personnel change; it marks the complete dissolution of the political alliance between Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and his former mentor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The vacancy was created following a turbulent period in the Kano executive branch. In January 2026, Governor Abba Yusuf officially defected from the NNPP to the APC, citing a desire to align the state with the Federal Government to accelerate development.
The former Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, refused to join the Governor in the APC. After facing impeachment threats from the State House of Assembly, which had also defected. Gwarzo resigned on March 27, 2026, stating he was acting in the interest of state stability.
Murtala Sule Garo, a former Commissioner for Local Government and a political heavyweight within the APC (specifically the Ganduje faction), was nominated and subsequently confirmed by the Assembly to fill the role.
Garo was the 2023 deputy governorship candidate for the APC. By bringing him into the fold, Governor Yusuf has effectively unified the “Abba” and “Ganduje” factions of the APC in Kano. This creates a formidable front ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Known by the moniker “Commander,” Garo has deep-rooted influence across the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano. His appointment is intended to neutralize the grassroots structure of the NNPP’s “Kwankwasiyya” movement.
The new deputy governor is expected to lead the administration’s local government reforms, leveraging his previous experience as a commissioner. The administration’s focus has shifted toward faster access to federal intervention funds and renewed focus on completing major flyovers and rural roads.
This move leaves Senator Kwankwaso and the NNPP in a difficult position as the primary opposition in a state they dominated just three years ago. The political landscape of Kano is now firmly under the banner of the APC, with Garo serving as the bridge between the old and new party power structures.
