Kano NNPP Crisis Deepens: Governor Yusuf Reassigns Top Officials in Deputy’s Office and Local Government Ministry

Governor Abba Yusuf has ordered the reassignment of key officials within the Office of the Deputy Governor and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. This move has raised eyebrows, with many speculating about its links to the internal power struggle within the NNPP.

Governor Yusuf’s directives involved the transfer of Permanent Secretary Aminu Kura, previously responsible for Special Duties in the Deputy Governor’s Office, to the Office of the Head of Service without a specific portfolio. Likewise, Ibrahim Kabara, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, was reassigned to the Ministry of Special Duties.

The reshuffle brought in Sadi Ibrahim as the new Permanent Secretary of Special Duties in the Deputy Governor’s Office, and Musbahu Badawi was appointed as the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. In addition, directors Aminu Kabara and Jamilu Muhd, overseeing Salary & Wages and Recruitment & Training, were transferred from the Local Government Ministry to the Office of the Head of Service.

While the governor’s office described these reassignments as standard administrative adjustments, sources within the government suggest they may be related to mounting tensions between Governor Yusuf and Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam, who also serves as the Commissioner for Local Government. Rumors of a rift between the two intensified after a recent drug procurement scandal involving Novomed, a pharmaceutical company linked to the governor’s nephew, Musa Garba Kwankwaso, surfaced. This scandal has reportedly strained relations between the governor and the national leader of the NNPP, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

According to insiders, these moves could be aimed at reducing the deputy governor’s influence within the Local Government Ministry, a crucial area under his purview. A source familiar with the situation disclosed that Abdussalam was not consulted regarding the latest transfers—a break from the usual protocol where his office would typically nominate civil servants to be approved by the governor.

Some officials involved in the recent postings were reportedly implicated in the Novomed scandal, as alleged by the Kano State Anti-Corruption and Public Complaint Commission. However, this connection has yet to be confirmed officially.