My former deputy plotted to take my seat – Governor Yusuf

Abba Kabir Yusuf has accused his former deputy, Aminu Abdussalam, of attempting to remove him from office and take over his position.

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The governor made the allegation while hosting a group of supporters in Kano, stating that he had not even seen Abdussalam’s resignation letter and insisted there had been no wrongdoing from his administration.

“Today, the deputy governor who came with us on the same ticket is no longer with us… I have not even seen his resignation letter, what concerns me with it?” Yusuf said. “Whatever made him act that way was an attempt to remove me and take the position, but God did not allow it.”

Abdussalam’s exit came amid impeachment moves by the state assembly, which were later withdrawn following his resignation.

Yusuf also questioned the treatment of his former deputy within the Kwankwasiyya political movement, suggesting he had been sidelined despite his ambitions. “The deputy governor who left, hoping to secure that ticket… why not give him the ticket? Is that not a betrayal of him?” he asked.

Responding to criticism over his own political decisions, including his exit from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, the governor said recent events have exposed those he described as “betrayers” within the political fold. “Kwankwasiyya members were not even informed before the decision to leave the NNPP was taken… so were they betrayed or not?” he said.

Yusuf maintained that his actions were taken in the interest of Kano residents and to avoid uncertainty, adding: “We saw the direction the party was heading and offered advice, but it was ignored… we left because we did not want to put millions of Kano residents in uncertainty.”

He also criticised what he described as the promotion of new political figures over long-standing members, questioning internal decisions within the movement. Despite the political tensions, the governor said his administration remains focused, noting that credible individuals are already expressing interest in filling the vacant deputy governorship position.