Former Kano State Governor and ex-National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abdullahi Ganduje, has clarified that his recent public acknowledgment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano should not be interpreted as support for his reinstatement.
Ganduje said the lingering emirship dispute in Kano remains before the Supreme Court and can only be conclusively resolved by the apex court.
The former governor came under public scrutiny after addressing Sanusi as the Emir of Kano and Chairman of the Kano State Council of Chiefs during the swearing-in ceremony of the new deputy governor of Kano State on Tuesday.
The remark drew applause from dignitaries at the event and sparked speculation about a possible shift in Ganduje’s position on the highly contentious royal tussle.
However, in a statement issued by his former Chief of Staff, Muhammad Garba, Ganduje insisted that the greeting was merely a gesture of courtesy at a public gathering and not an endorsement of Sanusi’s claim to the throne.
“It is important to clarify that what happened was simply an expression of respect in a public gathering. It should not be misconstrued as an endorsement,” Ganduje said.
He maintained that the legal battle surrounding the Kano Emirate is still pending before the Supreme Court and urged all parties to allow the judicial process to run its course.
“The subsisting legal position recognises Aminu Ado Bayero as the 15th Emir of Kano and Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 14th Emir, pending the final judgment of the Supreme Court,” he stated.
“The interpretation being given to the remark is clearly exaggerated. All parties should exercise restraint and await the Supreme Court judgment which is expected to be delivered in April next year.”
The Kano emirship dispute has remained a major political and traditional controversy since March 2020 when Ganduje, then governor, deposed Sanusi over what he described as “total disrespect to lawful instructions from the office of the governor.”
Following Sanusi’s removal, Aminu Ado Bayero was appointed emir.
The situation resurfaced in May 2024 after Governor Abba Yusuf announced Sanusi’s reinstatement and simultaneously dethroned Bayero, a move that triggered fresh legal disputes.
Bayero subsequently challenged his removal in court, leading to prolonged litigation over the legitimacy of the Kano throne.
The Supreme Court recently adjourned hearing in the matter until April 2027.
Ganduje, a leading APC figure in Kano politics, also stressed that he has no constitutional authority to determine who occupies the emirship stool.
According to him, only the courts can make a final pronouncement on the matter.
