The political temperature in Nigeria spiked again. Appearing on Channels TV’s Politics Today, elder statesman and NNPP chieftain Buba Galadima declared it “impossible” for Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano governor and NNPP’s political heavyweight, to ever align with the ruling APC. His reason was blunt: the federal government’s meddling in Kano’s traditional institution has not only “ridiculed the emirate” but also poisoned any grounds for political reconciliation.
A Throne Divided
The Kano Emirate, one of Nigeria’s oldest and most revered traditional stools, has been at the heart of a bitter political storm since 2024.
- Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of NNPP, riding on Kwankwaso’s political machinery, reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II after his 2020 dethronement by then-Governor Ganduje.
- But the move sparked a chain reaction: the Federal High Court, in a controversial ruling, gave legal recognition to Aminu Ado-Bayero, the emir earlier installed under Ganduje.
- Result: Kano now has two emirs — one backed by the state, another shielded by Abuja.
The symbolism is deeper than a crown. In Kano, the emirship is identity, authority, and cultural pride. By creating “two thrones, one city,” Abuja has touched a raw nerve in the North.
Galadima’s Outrage
In his explosive interview, Galadima tore into the federal government’s role:
“They appointed two emirs in one town. There is a federal government emir and a state emir. Who has the responsibility to appoint the emir and pay his salary?”
He alleged that Abuja has stationed over 40 pickup vans of mobile policemen around the federal-backed emir’s palace — a show of force that many Kano indigenes interpret as occupation, not protection.
“Why can’t we Nigerians look at issues dispassionately? How can Kwankwaso be a friend of APC with what they are doing to us in Kano?” he asked, his voice shaking with indignation.
The Politics Behind the Palace
The emirship crisis is not just about tradition — it’s a power game with 2027 in sight.
- For Tinubu’s APC: Kano’s votes are gold. With over 6 million registered voters, the state is a kingmaker in every presidential election. Wooing Kwankwaso, the city’s political godfather, was meant to soften APC’s northern resistance.
- For NNPP: The emirship war has hardened their resolve. To NNPP supporters, Abuja’s hand in the crisis is a deliberate attempt to undermine Kano and diminish Kwankwaso’s legacy.
- For Kwankwaso himself: The ordeal reinforces his position as a defender of Kano’s dignity, not a bargaining chip for APC’s convenience.
Failed Courtship
Earlier in 2025, Kwankwaso visited President Tinubu in Abuja — a private meeting that sparked whispers of a possible alliance. But Galadima has now set the record straight:
“Kwankwaso is not leaving NNPP. We are the people who will determine who becomes Nigeria’s president in 2027.”
That defiance is not empty rhetoric. NNPP has built grassroots networks across Kano and northern states, positioning itself as the custodian of northern grievances against Abuja’s “southern-leaning” policies.
Bigger Picture: A North That Feels Betrayed
Kwankwaso himself has repeatedly accused the Tinubu administration of neglecting the North. From collapsing road networks to rising insecurity, he warns that Abuja is “diverting national resources southward” while northern communities sink deeper into poverty.
The emirship crisis, then, becomes more than a local squabble. It is a symbol of a northern elite who feel excluded — and a federal government accused of playing with cultural fire for political gain.
What This Means for 2027
- APC’s Kano Gamble Backfires: Instead of drawing Kwankwaso in, the emirship feud has widened the gulf.
- NNPP’s Leverage Grows: With Kano locked down politically, NNPP enters 2027 as a decisive bloc — able to tilt elections through coalitions.
- Traditional Institutions Politicised: The saga sets a dangerous precedent — where crowns become chess pieces in Nigeria’s political game.
For now, one thing is clear: Kwankwaso’s hands will never shake APC’s so long as Abuja’s fingers remain on Kano’s throne. In Galadima’s words, this is no longer politics — it is about dignity, culture, and the survival of an institution older than Nigeria itself.
But the emirship war is far from over. With court battles still raging and Kano’s streets split in loyalty, the crisis may yet deliver new shocks ahead of 2027. And if Abuja refuses to step back, Kano’s throne could well decide Nigeria’s presidency.
