Kano residents flood streets, celebrate Murtala Sule Garo’s nomination as Deputy Governor

Residents of Kano State on Wednesday celebrated the nomination of Murtala Sule Garo as Deputy Governor by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

The celebration commenced after the announcement of the nomination, with residents flooding the streets, turning several parts of the city and some local government areas into scenes of fanfare and merrymaking.

The nomination, announced in a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, triggered immediate reactions across Kano metropolis and beyond, including Kabo Local Government Area, where groups of young people openly celebrated the development.

In videos that have since gone viral, youths were seen riding motorcycles, driving cars, and others walking through major roads, chanting “Sai Abba” and “Sai Garo,” in a show of support for Governor Yusuf and the nominee.

Some of them carried portraits of Murtala Sule Garo alongside those of the governor, singing and dancing as they moved from one street to another.

The celebrations remained largely peaceful, despite the large crowds that filled the streets.

The nomination of Murtala Sule Garo came after the resignation of former Deputy Governor Abdussalam Gwarzo on March 27, 2026, creating a vacancy that the governor moved to fill in line with constitutional provisions.

Governor Yusuf has since forwarded Garo’s name to the Kano State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.

According to the statement, the decision followed wide consultations with key political stakeholders, with the administration stressing that the move is aimed at strengthening governance and ensuring continuity in service delivery across the state.

Garo, 48, is a long-time political figure with more than two decades of experience in both elective and appointed positions. He has served as State Organising Secretary, Special Adviser to the governor, Chairman of Kabo Local Government, Chairman of ALGON in Kano, and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

He also contested as the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2023 general elections.

Meanwhile, the Kano State House of Assembly has announced that Garo would be screened for the position on Monday. It is expected that he will assume the position of deputy governor after the screening.