KANO, — Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has relieved Sunusi Surajo-Kwankwaso of his appointment as political adviser, citing poor performance and alleging that the office had become a source of rising tension and internal divisions.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Saturday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, who said an internal assessment of the political adviser’s office showed it had “failed to meet expectations,” prompting the governor to act to protect the integrity of the administration and “restore harmony.”
Yusuf, according to the statement, said his leadership approach is anchored on “loyalty, discipline and performance,” and that continued underperformance or conduct that fuels disunity would not be tolerated in his government.
In the same announcement, the governor named Mustapha Bakwana as the new political adviser, expressing confidence in his “commitment, professionalism and responsibility” to the office. Several reports also identify the appointee as Hamza Buhari Bakwana and describe him as a former adviser within the state’s political ecosystem.
The shake-up comes amid wider political crosscurrents in Kano. Over the past 24 hours, media reports said Surajo-Kwankwaso had indicated he was stepping aside, linking his decision to reports of Governor Yusuf’s departure from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and alleged plans to align with the All Progressives Congress (APC). Government sources, however, framed Saturday’s development as a dismissal based on performance and its alleged impact on cohesion within the administration.
Analysts say the removal of Surajo-Kwankwaso—widely seen as a loyalist within the Kwankwasiyya political movement—underscores the intensity of factional pressures in the state and the premium the governor is placing on internal discipline as Kano moves toward the next electoral cycle.
The government did not immediately provide further details on the assessment that led to the decision or whether additional changes would follow.
