Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has moved to fill the vacuum in the state’s leadership, forwarding the nomination of Murtala Garo to the Kano State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation as deputy governor.
The development comes weeks after the resignation of former deputy governor, Abdussalam Gwarzo, which created a constitutional gap in the state’s executive structure.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, the governor said the nomination was in line with constitutional provisions empowering him to appoint a replacement.
The statement noted that the decision followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders across the state, signalling what insiders described as a strategic move to stabilise governance.
“Following wide consultations with key stakeholders, the governor has requested the Assembly to grant the necessary approval for Garo’s nomination,” the statement read.
Garo, 48, is described as a seasoned grassroots politician with over two decades of experience, having held several strategic positions in Kano’s political landscape.
He previously served as state organising secretary of his party, special adviser to the governor, chairman of Kabo Local Government Area, and commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs.
He also once led the state chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria.
The nominee was the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 general elections.
The nomination, according to the government, is part of efforts to reinforce the administration’s structure and sustain effective governance following the recent shake-up in the state executive.