Kano Assembly confirms six nominees as commissioners

File photo: Kano State House of Assembly

The Kano State House of Assembly has confirmed six commissioner-nominees forwarded by Governor Abba Yusuf, including a former commissioner who resigned last year following a controversy over the bail of a suspected drug offender.

Lawmakers screened and confirmed the nominees during plenary on Monday, after deliberating on their qualifications, experience, and suitability for the proposed positions.

The confirmed nominees are Air Commodore Salisu Yusha’u (retd.), Ibrahim Namadi, Sani Lawan, Muktar Yakasai, Aminu Tsanyawa and Idris Mustapha.

The Assembly’s Chief Press Secretary, Kamaluddeen Shawai, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Monday, saying the exercise was conducted under the leadership of the Speaker, Jibril Falgore.

“Falgore informed lawmakers that Governor Yusuf had forwarded the six names to the House for screening as part of the process for appointing new members of the state executive council,” the statement said.

The nominees appeared individually before the lawmakers and introduced themselves before members considered their qualifications and professional experience.

“Members expressed satisfaction with the nominees’ qualifications, experience, competence and suitability. We considered their appointments as timely in view of the need to sustain development in Kano State,” the statement quoted the Speaker as saying.

The confirmation comes as the Kano State Executive Council is being reconstituted following Yusuf’s defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the All Progressives Congress in January 2026, a move that triggered resignations by some political appointees associated with his former party.

In January, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Special Services, Ibrahim Umar, resigned, citing the political developments and strained relations between the governor and his political mentor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Other commissioners also left their positions amid the realignment.

The governor formally joined the APC on January 26, 2026, alongside several lawmakers and other political figures.

His defection marked a major shift in Kano politics, where the NNPP had brought him to power in 2023 with the backing of Kwankwaso.

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One of the six nominees, Namadi, previously served as commissioner for transportation.

He resigned in August 2025 after a government investigative panel examined his role in the bail of Sulaiman Danwawu, a suspected drug offender.

At the time, Namadi said he was stepping down because of the sensitive nature of the matter and the need to protect public trust, while maintaining his innocence.

The government’s inquiry had found that he acted negligently by standing as surety without adequate background checks, according to reports on the panel’s findings.

His nomination for another term in the cabinet therefore comes after the earlier controversy and his subsequent departure from office.

The Assembly’s statement announcing the confirmation, however, did not address the circumstances of his previous resignation.

The confirmation also brings former public officeholders into consideration for the reconstituted cabinet.

Yakasai previously served as commissioner for special duties under former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, while Aminu Tsanyawa served as commissioner for health under the same administration, according to reports on the nominations.

Lawmakers who contributed to the screening deliberations included those representing Doguwa, Tudun Wada, Fagge, Kiru, Madobi, Dala and Aliyu Bagwai/Shanono, among others.

The statement also said Falgore welcomed distinguished guests at the plenary, including serving and former members of the House of Representatives.

The confirmation marks another step in the reconstitution of the state cabinet after the political realignment and subsequent departures from Yusuf’s administration. The nominees’ eventual responsibilities and performance in their assigned ministries will determine their contribution to the government’s delivery of public services across Kano State.