Kano State House of Assembly Initiates Impeachment Proceedings Against Deputy Gov

The Kano State House of Assembly on Thursday, March 5, 2026, officially began impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, citing gross misconduct, abuse of office, and breach of public trust. The move has escalated political tensions in Kano State amid ongoing disagreements between the deputy governor and state leadership.

During Thursday’s plenary, Majority Leader Lawan Hussaini Dala presented the impeachment notice, which was formally read by Speaker Ismail Falgore, in line with Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). This provision empowers a state legislature to commence the removal of a deputy governor for impeachable offenses, including gross misconduct.

Allegations Against Abdulsalam

The impeachment notice alleges that Abdulsalam, during his tenure as Commissioner for Local Government Affairs (2023–2024) and subsequently as Deputy Governor, engaged in improper financial practices. Lawmakers claim he received ₦1.5 million per month from each of the state’s 44 local government councils between June 2023 and January 2024, totalling ₦462 million over seven months.

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Further, between February and July 2024, Abdulsalam allegedly received ₦3.255 million per council monthly for purported “special assignments,” amounting to an additional ₦726 million. The Assembly also accused him of facilitating the release of ₦10 million from each council — ₦440 million in total — to NovoMed Pharmaceuticals Limited, in violation of the Kano State Public Procurement Law and Fiscal Management regulations.

The lawmakers describe these actions as gross misconduct under Section 188(2) of the Constitution, representing a serious breach of ethical standards and public trust.

Process and Next Steps

A total of 38 members of the Kano State House of Assembly signed the impeachment notice, meeting constitutional requirements to trigger the process. Following the presentation, Speaker Falgore directed that the notice be formally served on Deputy Governor Abdulsalam, who now has 14 days to respond to the allegations.

If the deputy governor replies or if the motion proceeds, the Assembly may establish an investigative panel to scrutinize the claims before a potential vote on removal. Observers note that the process could significantly impact Kano’s political landscape, particularly in the context of recent party defections and internal disagreements within state leadership.

The impeachment initiative comes amid speculation about Abdulsalam’s political stance after he reportedly refused to defect alongside Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from the NNPP to the APC, further straining relations within the state’s leadership.

As of now, Deputy Governor Abdulsalam has not publicly responded to the impeachment notice.

Kano State House of Assembly Initiates Impeachment Proceedings Against Deputy Gov

Lai Mohammed: Peter Obi Couldn’t Have Won 2023 Election Even With 10 Million Extra Votes

Former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Lai Mohammed, has stated that former Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, would not have emerged president of Nigeria in the 2023 election, even if he had secured an additional 10 million votes. Speaking on Edmund Obilo’s “State Affairs” podcast, Mohammed dismissed claims that Obi was “rigged out” of the election, emphasising that Obi neither won the election nor was the main challenger to eventual winner Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). “The 2023 presidential election was conducted in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution. Peter Obi did not meet the requirements to win, even with an additional 10 million votes,” Mohammed said.

Mohammed explained that under Nigeria’s Constitution, a presidential candidate must not only receive the highest number of votes nationwide, but also secure at least 25 per cent of votes in two-thirds of Nigeria’s states. In the 2023 election, Obi reportedly achieved 25 per cent of votes in only 15 states, finishing third behind Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who met the threshold in 21 states. Tinubu, the declared winner, secured the majority of votes and the constitutional 25 per cent spread in 29 states. “Even if Obi had gained 10 million more votes, he still would not have satisfied the constitutional criteria for presidency,” Mohammed added.

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He noted that many supporters of Obi questioned the credibility of the 2023 election on social media. To counter misinformation, his team engaged international think tanks and media outlets in the US and UK to explain why Obi could not have legally won. Mohammed emphasised that public perception or social media narratives cannot override constitutional requirements.

The former minister also suggested that Obi was not the primary challenger in the election. He argued that had Obi remained aligned with Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, the opposition might have had a better chance to win, highlighting that the fragmentation of votes weakened the opposition’s prospects.

Despite these clarifications, critics of the 2023 polls continue to raise concerns over electoral transparency, logistics failures, and voter inclusivity. Supporters of Obi maintain calls for electoral reforms, stressing the need to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic processes for future elections. Mohammed’s comments reinforce the government’s position that Nigeria’s constitutional rules are the definitive measure of election outcomes.

Lai Mohammed: Peter Obi Couldn’t Have Won 2023 Election Even With 10 Million Extra Votes

‘Probe Is Political’ — El-Rufai Refuses To Answer ICPC, Insists On Court Trial

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has explained why he declined to respond to questions from the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, describing the investigation against him as politically motivated.

In handwritten statements made under caution on February 19 and 20, 2026, while in ICPC custody and in the presence of his lawyer, Ubong E. Akpan, the former governor said his decision to remain silent was deliberate and in exercise of his constitutional rights.

El-Rufai maintained that he would only respond to any allegations before a court of law.

“I have, on the advice of counsel, decided to exercise my right to silence. I will make no further statement or respond to any question,” he wrote in his first statement dated February 19.

He added that after what he described as nearly two years of investigation, the anti-graft agency should present its findings before a judicial tribunal.

“I believe that after nearly two years of intensive investigation, the ICPC should present its findings to a judicial tribunal and not to me. I will respond to any allegations in a court of law only,” he stated.

The former governor further alleged that the probe was driven by politics, claiming his affiliation with the African Democratic Congress was the “real reason” behind the investigation.

“I am a leading member of the African Democratic Congress, the only surviving opposition party in Nigeria, which is the real reason you are investigating me,” he wrote.

Providing personal background in the statement, El-Rufai said he was born in Dandawa, Katsina State, in 1960, attended school in Kaduna and obtained his first degree in Quantity Surveying from Ahmadu Bello University. He also listed academic stints at Harvard University and the University of London.

He outlined his public service career, including serving as Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises between 1999 and 2003, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007, and two-term governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023.

In a follow-up statement dated February 20, 2026, El-Rufai reiterated his stance.

“Upon presentation of further documents and questions, I reserve my constitutional right to silence to all the documents and further questions… I will respond to these documents and questions only when presented in a Court of Law,” he wrote.

El-Rufai may regain his freedom on Thursday if the ICPC fails to file charges before the expiration of a 14-day remand order granted by a Chief Magistrate Court in Bwari. The detention warrant is due to lapse on March 5, 2026.

The ICPC has yet to publicly respond to the former governor’s claims that the investigation is politically motivated.