The planned defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reignited anxieties over one of Nigeria’s most sensitive traditional disputes – the lingering tussle between Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.
Political observers warn that the rumoured move could reopen old wounds in the North-West state, where power, tradition and politics remain deeply intertwined.
Beyond the emirate crisis, the defection speculation has reportedly heightened political tension within Kano, straining relations between Yusuf’s supporters and loyalists of his political mentor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a leading figure in the NNPP.
Daily Post reported that Yusuf’s alleged defection plan was one of the issues discussed during his closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday.
Sources further disclosed that the governor has fixed another defection date after several postponements.
The Kano emirate crisis dates back to 2020 when then-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje dethroned Sanusi and installed Ado Bayero following changes to the emirate structure.
The move was widely criticised as politically motivated and deepened divisions across the state.
Upon assuming office in 2023, Yusuf repealed the emirate law, restored the single Kano Emirate and reinstated Sanusi, while directing Bayero to vacate the palace.
While Sanusi’s supporters hailed the move as corrective justice, critics described it as executive overreach.
Bayero’s return, legal battle
Refusing to relinquish his claim, Bayero later returned to Kano and took up residence at the Nassarawa mini palace under heavy security protection, while challenging his removal in court.
In March, the Court of Appeal in Abuja directed all parties to exercise restraint pending the determination of appeals at the Supreme Court. Since then, little has been heard officially on the matter.
Against this fragile backdrop, Yusuf’s alleged move to the APC has sparked renewed concern.
Supporters of Ado Bayero, who continue to regard him as the legitimate Emir, see the rumoured defection as an opportunity for renewed legal and political contestation.
Conversely, Sanusi’s loyalists fear that the Emir, already a polarising figure, could once again face political headwinds if the balance of power shifts.
‘Defection could expose Kano to security risks’
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Editor for Politics at Arise News, Sumner Sambo, warned that Yusuf’s defection could deepen the emirate crisis and pose serious security risks.
He said the situation had effectively created two power centres within the Kano emirate.
“Some people call Ado Bayero the federal Emir, while Sanusi Lamido is seen as the state Emir,” Sambo said.
He warned that a defection to the APC could further weaken Sanusi’s security situation, noting that the Emir reportedly lacks formal police protection and relies largely on vigilantes.
“Now imagine if Governor Yusuf moves to the APC and Sanusi is left bare, without adequate protection,” he said.
Sambo also cautioned that the APC could revisit its earlier position on the emirship, including a possible attempt to reinstate Bayero.
“If that happens, it would be a huge security challenge and a major political fallout,” he warned.
Sambo added that the development could also place Kwankwaso in a difficult position, given his central role in Yusuf’s emergence and in Sanusi’s reinstatement.
He urged federal authorities to tread carefully, describing Kano as politically volatile.
Also reacting, public affairs analyst and communication expert at Peaceland University, Enugu, Nduka Odo, said the fate of the two rival emirs could ultimately depend on the political relationship between the state and federal governments.
Speaking with Daily Post, Odo described the situation as a reflection of Nigeria’s systemic failure.
“The fate of the two emirs hinges on the relationship between leaders of the state and federal governments,” he said.
According to him, Sanusi could either retain relevance or be politically sidelined, while Bayero’s position could improve depending on political alignments.
“The Emir who will benefit is the one who makes himself valuable to both state and federal leaders,” Odo added.
Odo criticised the judiciary for failing to conclusively resolve the emirship dispute, noting that prolonged legal uncertainty had allowed politics to dominate the fate of traditional institutions.
“If we had functional systems, revered traditional stools would not be thrown into chaos or depend on the mood of political office holders,” he said.