My former deputy planned to remove me as governor — Yusuf

Governor Abba Yusuf has alleged that the resignation of his former deputy, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, was part of an attempt to remove him from office.

Speaking on Thursday at the Government House in Kano while receiving supporters, Yusuf said Gwarzo’s exit from the administration was unexpected and not formally communicated to him.

“Today, the deputy governor who came with us on the same ticket is no longer with us,” Yusuf said. “Nobody offended him. In fact, I have not even seen his resignation letter… Whatever made him act that way was an attempt to remove me and take the position, but God did not allow it.”

Gwarzo resigned on March 27, days after the Kano State House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against him over allegations including gross misconduct, abuse of office, and financial impropriety.

The development followed political shifts in the state, with Yusuf and key allies defecting from the New Nigeria People’s Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC), earlier in the year, while Gwarzo, a known ally of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, later joined the African Democratic Congress.