Kano, March 5, 2026 – The Kano State House of Assembly has formally commenced impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, citing multiple allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and breach of public trust. The move, which could lead to his removal from office, was announced during plenary on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, and is being pursued in strict compliance with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The notice of impeachment was presented on the floor of the House by the Majority Leader, Hon. Lawan Hussaini Dala, who moved the motion on behalf of 38 lawmakers—exceeding the one-third constitutional threshold required to initiate the process. Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Jibrin Ismail Falgore, acknowledged receipt of the document and confirmed that the allegations would be formally transmitted to the deputy governor in accordance with constitutional requirements.
In his presentation, Hon. Dala detailed a series of grave charges spanning Abdussalam Gwarzo’s tenure as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (2023–2024) and his subsequent role as deputy governor following the November 2024 governorship election won by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The Majority Leader alleged that while serving as commissioner overseeing the state’s 44 local government councils, Abdussalam Gwarzo participated in the systematic diversion of funds meant for council operations. Specifically:
Between June 2023 and January 2024 (a seven-month period), he reportedly received monthly kickbacks of N1.5 million from each of the 44 councils, amounting to N66 million per month or a cumulative total of N462 million.
From February to July 2024 (six months), he allegedly collected additional monthly payments of N3.255 million per council for purported “special assignments,” totaling N143.22 million monthly or N859.32 million over the period.
The impeachment notice further accused the deputy governor of abusing his office by allegedly facilitating unauthorized payments totaling N440 million from the 44 councils—N10 million each—to NovoMed Pharmaceuticals Limited, a private pharmaceutical company. These transactions, according to Dala, violated the Kano State Public Procurement Law, fiscal responsibility guidelines, and constitutional provisions on prudent management of public funds.
“The misuse of official capacity to confer undue advantage constitutes abuse of power and is contrary to the obligations of public office,” Hon. Dala stated. He argued that the combined weight of the allegations—diversion of funds, corrupt enrichment, and unauthorized payments—amounts to gross misconduct as defined under Section 188(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which includes “grave violation or breach of the provisions of this Constitution” and “serious wrongdoing” by a public officer.
The Majority Leader emphasized that the notice was signed by 38 out of the 41-member House, meeting the constitutional threshold to trigger the impeachment process. He formally moved: “Based on the foregoing allegations, we hereby resolve that His Excellency, Aminu Abdussalam, the Deputy Governor of Kano State, be impeached and removed from office in accordance with the provisions of Section 188 of the Constitution.”
Following the presentation, lawmakers across party lines indicated strong support for the motion, with several members rising to second the resolution. Speaker Falgore ruled that the notice had been duly received and would be communicated to the deputy governor within the stipulated timeframe. Under Section 188, once the deputy governor is served with the notice, he is entitled to respond in writing within 14 days. If the response is deemed unsatisfactory or no response is received, the House may pass a resolution supported by two-thirds of its members requesting the Chief Judge of Kano State to constitute a seven-member panel to investigate the allegations.
The panel, which must include individuals of proven integrity and not members of the National or State Assembly, is required to complete its investigation within three months and submit a report to the House. If the panel finds the allegations substantiated, the House may then vote to remove the deputy governor by a two-thirds majority.
As of the time of this report, Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo has not issued a public response to the allegations or the impeachment notice. Efforts to obtain comments from his media office were unsuccessful, though sources close to him described the charges as “politically motivated” and vowed that he would address them through the appropriate constitutional channels.
The development marks the latest in a series of high-profile political tensions in Kano State since the 2023 governorship election and subsequent rerun in 2024, which saw Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the NNPP emerge victorious after legal battles. Deputy Governor Gwarzo, originally elected on the NNPP platform alongside Yusuf, has faced recurring speculation about strained relations within the administration, though both officials have publicly denied any rift.
The impeachment process has drawn immediate reactions from civil society groups, legal experts, and political observers. The Kano chapter of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) called for a transparent, fair, and evidence-based proceeding, warning against the weaponization of impeachment for political vendettas. Constitutional lawyers noted that the threshold for removal is deliberately high to protect against frivolous actions, requiring both a credible panel investigation and a two-thirds legislative vote.
The Kano State House of Assembly, currently dominated by NNPP members following the party’s sweep in the 2023 state assembly elections, has signaled its determination to proceed expeditiously while adhering to due process. The outcome of the impeachment proceedings could have significant implications for the political stability of Kano State—one of Nigeria’s most populous and politically influential states—and for the balance of power within the ruling NNPP ahead of future electoral cycles.
As the constitutional timeline begins, all eyes remain on the deputy governor’s response and the House’s next steps in what could become one of the most consequential political developments in Kano in recent years.
