The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has rejected calls for the resignation of Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, the deputy governor of Kano State, insisting that he remains constitutionally empowered to stay in office despite political realignments in the state.
The reaction follows remarks credited to Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the Kano State commissioner for information and internal affairs, who suggested that the deputy governor should step aside for refusing to defect alongside Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Waiya argued that trust and confidentiality within the executive council could be compromised if a key official does not share the political direction of the administration.
Political tension heightened after Yusuf defected to the APC earlier in the week, along with a large number of elected officials across the state. While the governor and several lawmakers switched allegiance, the deputy governor remained in the NNPP and aligned with the Kwankwasiyya political movement led by former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Observers note that the defection has altered the balance of power in the Kano State House of Assembly, following the movement of a majority of lawmakers to the APC. This development has fuelled speculation that the deputy governor could face political pressure, including impeachment threats, when the assembly resumes.
Speaking on a radio programme, Waiya maintained that it was inappropriate for a deputy governor who no longer aligns politically with the governor to continue participating fully in executive meetings. He said resignation would be the most honourable option and defended the governor’s defection as a strategic move to attract federal presence and development to the state.
In response, the NNPP described the call for resignation as politically motivated and unconstitutional. The party said the deputy governor was elected on a joint ticket and derives his mandate directly from the electorate, adding that party defection by the governor does not invalidate that mandate.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement also condemned the resignation call, warning that it could heighten political tension and destabilise governance in the state. The group insisted that the deputy governor’s position is protected by the constitution and cannot be undermined by political pressure.
Supporters of the deputy governor urged political actors to prioritise stability and governance, stressing that disagreements arising from party defections should be resolved through dialogue rather than actions that could disrupt the administration.
