Fresh Political Turmoil in Kano as IGP Summons Gov Abba’s Spokesman, Sanusi Bature
The political atmosphere in Kano State has taken another turbulent turn as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has summoned Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, for questioning at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The police invitation, contained in a letter dated May 23, 2025, is connected to the contentious suspension of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, by his ward executives in 2024—a move that sparked widespread political uproar across the state.
Dawakin-Tofa, widely regarded as a fierce critic of Ganduje, is alleged to have masterminded the events leading to the suspension. The letter, signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Akin Fakorede, directed the Kano State Government to release the governor’s spokesperson to appear before Superintendent Mojirode B. Obisiji on May 29, 2025.
According to the police, Dawakin-Tofa is under investigation for alleged criminal defamation, impersonation, and actions likely to incite public disorder.
This is not the first time the police have moved against the governor’s aide. In December 2024, a similar arrest order over the same issue led to a legal standoff between the Nigeria Police and the Kano State Government.
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The longstanding rivalry between Ganduje and Dawakin-Tofa is well-known in Kano’s political circles. Their feud reportedly dates back to 2015 when Ganduje, then governor-elect, allegedly ordered the arrest of Dawakin-Tofa for opposing him during the elections.
In April 2024, Ganduje was controversially suspended by his ward’s APC executive committee. Although the national leadership of the party later invalidated the suspension, the damage was done politically. Ganduje and his allies immediately pointed accusing fingers at Dawakin-Tofa, alleging he orchestrated the move to weaken Ganduje’s grip on Kano politics.
In response to earlier police attempts to arrest him, Dawakin-Tofa secured a court injunction barring security agencies—including the Police, DSS, and Civil Defence—from arresting or harassing him. However, despite that legal protection, the police have proceeded with fresh action.
His legal team has since filed an appeal against a Kano High Court’s decision to dismiss his suit challenging the police and Ganduje over the matter. They are now banking on the Court of Appeal to intervene.
With the 2027 general elections drawing closer, political observers say the stakes in Kano are only getting higher. The unfolding drama underscores the deepening tension between key political forces in the state and raises questions about how far legal and political institutions will be used in settling long-standing rivalries.
By PRNigeria
