Surajo, a former chairman of the Madobi Local Government Area and a prominent figure within the Kwankwasiyya political structure, was replaced by a former aide to the governor’s predecessor and former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje—a move widely interpreted as a signal of the governor’s shifting political alignment.
Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, confirmed the removal in a social media update, though no official explanation was provided for Surajo’s dismissal.
Sources within Government House say the action forms part of a broader political recalibration following the governor’s exit from the NNPP, a party he accused of internal instability and persistent leadership disputes.
In his resignation letter addressed to the chairman of Diso-Chiranchi Ward in the Gwale Local Government Area, Yusuf said his decision was driven by the need to protect the collective interest of Kano residents amid what he described as unending crises within the party.
“The NNPP has been engulfed by internal disagreements and legal battles that continue to undermine its unity across the country.
“These issues have weakened cohesion and distracted the party from its responsibility to the people,” the governor stated.
The governor’s departure from the NNPP has triggered a wave of defections, with 44 local government chairmen, 22 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, and eight federal legislators publicly declaring their loyalty to Yusuf.
However, the mass defection has fractured the Kwankwasiyya movement, leaving the state cabinet sharply divided.
A senior political source disclosed that the Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdulssalam Gwarzo, has chosen to remain aligned with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and will not defect alongside the governor.
Political observers have also noted the deputy governor’s absence from three successive official engagements at the Government House, while he has reportedly attended several meetings at Kwankwaso’s residence along Miller Road, Kano.
Meanwhile, a number of commissioners and top government officials have declined to leave the NNPP.
Among them are the commissioners for science and technology, Dr. Yusuf Kofar-Mata; special duties, Nasiru Garo; sports, Mustapha Kwankwaso; internal security, AVM Ibrahim Umar (retd.); humanitarian affairs, Adamu Kibiya; and women affairs, Amina Abdullahi.
Addressing supporters in Kano, Senator Kwankwaso called on his followers to brace for an intense political contest ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging them to remain steadfast despite the ongoing defections.
“Raising funds for a movement is not easy, but we are proud of your loyalty,” Kwankwaso said.
“We need people who are committed to progressive ideals, not those who can be swayed by money,” he told party supporters.
He cautioned against abandoning ideological principles for personal gain.
“If not for the perseverance of people like you, even I could have been compromised. The struggle for freedom is never easy, but it is worth sustaining,” he added.
