The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has condemned impeachment proceedings against Aminu Gwarzo, deputy governor of Kano state.
The party described the move as “legislative rascality” aimed at taking away the people’s mandate through the backdoor.
BACKGROUND
In January, Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, defected from the NNPP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing “deepening internal crises” and “prolonged leadership disputes”.
The governor said the decision was taken “in the best interest of the people of Kano state” to promote unity, stability, and accelerated development across the state.
Following Yusuf’s defection, there were reports that the state assembly was plotting to impeach the deputy governor for failing to follow the governor to the APC.
However, Kamaluddeen Shawai, spokesperson of the assembly, denied the impeachment plot, describing the reports as unfounded and lacking in merit.
LGA FUNDS
However, during plenary on Thursday, the Kano assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against Gwarzo, accusing the deputy governor of gross misconduct, abuse of office, breach of public trust, and financial malfeasance.
Lawan Dala, majority leader of the assembly, read the notice of impeachment against the deputy governor.
Dala alleged that Gwarzo, while serving as commissioner for local government, “wilfully participated in the diversion of funds allocated to local government administrations for purposes other than those for which they were appropriated”.
“Thus, between June 2023 and January 2024, he received a kickback of N1.5 million from each of the 44 local governments monthly, amounting to N66 million per month for seven months and totalling N462 million for personal or improper benefit,” the majority leader said.
He added that the conduct constituted a breach of public trust, undermining the integrity of the office and eroding confidence in public governance.
‘DESPERATE ANTICS’
In a statement on Thursday, Ladipo Johnson, NNPP national publicity secretary, said the party was not surprised by “the desperate antics” of the Kano assembly, calling the move “the dying kick of a political class that has lost its soul”.
Johnson said the deputy governor “is being persecuted” for refusing to join the “bandwagon of those who have betrayed the sacred mandate given by the people of Kano”.
“He has chosen the path of honour, staying true to Kano voters and the party, while others have fled to the ruling party in a shameful display of political opportunism,” the statement reads.
The party described the impeachment move as a “classic symptom of the atavistic and cannibalistic democracy” — a system in which, it said, the law is weaponised to devour the very people it should protect.
“They are not hunting a man; they are hunting the mandate of the people of Kano. We see this so-called impeachment process for what it is,” he added.
“It is a transparent attempt to pave the way for the complete APC takeover of a mandate they could not win at the polls or through the courts. It is a political execution disguised as a constitutional process.”
The party reiterated its support for the deputy governor and the people of the state, urging them to remain calm “in the face of this humongous provocation”.
“You cannot impeach the truth, and you cannot serve a notice of ‘gross misconduct’ on the collective will of the masses,” Johnson said.
“Let it be known: 2027 is closer than it appears. The voters have long memories. Every legislator currently trading their integrity for political crumbs — and, of course, their paymasters — will meet the wrath of the masses at the ballot box. The gavel is yours today, but the people hold the ultimate power.”
