Fresh details have emerged on the impeachment proceedings initiated against Kano State Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, by the Kano State House of Assembly, with allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office and breach of public trust.
The impeachment notice, presented by the Majority Leader, Lawan Hussaini Dala, was reportedly signed by 38 lawmakers—meeting the constitutional requirement needed to begin the process.
Lawmakers accused Gwarzo of engaging in financial improprieties while simultaneously serving as Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Local Government between 2023 and 2024.
Among the allegations is the alleged diversion of local government funds through kickbacks of N1.5 million monthly from each of the 44 local government councils, amounting to N462 million between June 2023 and January 2024.
He is also accused of facilitating payments of N10 million from each of the 44 councils to NovoMed Pharmaceuticals Limited, totalling N440 million, allegedly in violation of the state’s procurement and fiscal regulations.
In another allegation, the deputy governor allegedly received N3.255 million monthly from each council under the guise of special assignments, amounting to N726 million between February and July 2024.
Speaker of the Assembly, Ismail Falgore, has directed that the impeachment notice be formally served on Gwarzo.
Under the constitution, the deputy governor has 14 days to respond to the allegations.
Following this stage, the State Chief Judge may be requested to constitute an investigative panel to examine the claims.
If the panel finds him guilty, a two-thirds majority vote in the Assembly would be required to remove him from office.
Beyond the corruption allegations, political observers have linked the impeachment move to widening political differences between Gwarzo and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
The deputy governor reportedly refused to follow the governor in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the All Progressives Congress.
Sources say Gwarzo remains loyal to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the national leader of the NNPP, a stance believed to have intensified tensions within the Kano political leadership.
Kano State Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Waiya, had earlier suggested that the governor and his deputy should be politically aligned, warning that political division at the top could weaken governance in the state.
The New Nigeria Peoples Party has cautioned lawmakers against what it described as attempts to pressure the deputy governor into abandoning his political convictions.
If the impeachment succeeds, analysts believe Gwarzo could emerge as a political challenger in the next election cycle, potentially setting the stage for a major political contest in Kano.
With the required number of lawmakers already backing the impeachment notice, attention is now focused on the investigative panel and the deputy governor’s response to the allegations.