The Kano State House of Assembly on Thursday, March 5, 2026 initiated impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, breach of public trust.
The development comes amid rising political tension following the defection of Governor Abba Yusuf from the New Nigeria People’s Party to the All Progressives Congress.
The motion was presented by the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Lawal Dala, during plenary presided over by Speaker Ismail Falgore.
While reading the notice on the floor, Dala said the action followed provisions of Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which empowers a state legislature to begin impeachment proceedings against a deputy governor over allegations of gross misconduct.
According to the notice, Gwarzo allegedly breached public trust while serving as Commissioner for Local Government between 2023, 2024.
Lawmakers alleged that he received kickbacks of N1.5m monthly from each of the 44 local government councils in the state between June 2023, January 2024, amounting to N66m per month, a total of N462m within the seven month period.
The Assembly also alleged that between February, July 2024, the deputy governor received additional cash returns of N3.255m monthly from each local government council under the guise of executing special assignments, bringing the alleged total to N726m during the period.
Lawmakers further accused Gwarzo of facilitating the release of N10m from each of the 44 local government councils, totalling N440m, to NovoMed Pharmaceuticals Limited in alleged violation of the Kano State Public Procurement Law, fiscal management regulations.
The lawmakers described the actions as gross misconduct, a breach of constitutional provisions, ethical standards expected of public officials.
Following the presentation of the motion, Speaker Falgore directed that a formal notice be served on the deputy governor in line with constitutional procedures guiding impeachment.
Confirming the development, the Chief Press Secretary of the Assembly, Kamaludde Sani, said the motion had been read to lawmakers, noting that the deputy governor was given two weeks to respond or risk facing full impeachment proceedings.
“This is a serious matter that requires the deputy governor to either clear his name or face the full weight of the law,” he said.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the deputy governor were unsuccessful as calls to his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Shuaibu, were not answered at the time of filing this report.
Attempts to get a response from the state chapter of the New Nigeria People’s Party also proved unsuccessful.
The impeachment move comes weeks after Yusuf’s defection to the APC, a development that triggered political realignments across the state.
Several commissioners subsequently resigned from the cabinet, reaffirming loyalty to the NNPP, the Kwankwasiyya movement led by former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Those who resigned include Ibrahim Umar, Commissioner for Internal Security Special Services; Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, Commissioner for Youth Sports Development; Yusuf Ibrahim Mata, Commissioner for Science Technology; Adamu Kibiya, Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs; Nasiru Sani Garo, Commissioner for Special Projects.
Gwarzo, however, declined to join the governor in defecting to the APC.
