Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state has been stopped from appointing four new emirs for the newly created emirates he created in the state during the week.
A Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Nasiru Saminu on Friday not only gave the restraining order but also directed the state government to suspend any move aimed at demarcating the Kano emirate pending the determination of the case now before it by opposition members of the Kano State House of Assembly.
Ganduje signed a law on Wednesday creating four new emirates – Gaya, Rano, Karaye, and Bichi – a move widely seen as depletion of the powers of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II’s influence.
Following the creation of the new emirates, the matter immediately took a political dimension as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members in the House of Assembly said the new emirates were not properly created, and accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) majority of disregarding extant parliamentary procedures.
Minority leader, Rabi’u Gwarzo, and minority whip, Babangida Sulaiman, challenged the procedures followed in creating the four emirates.
The PDP lawmakers said the House was officially on recess and was not properly convened before the law was hurriedly passed on Wednesday.
Confirming the latest development in an interview with Daily Trust, Gwarzo said: “We challenged the creation of the new emirates in court because the procedures followed by the House was illegal. The days and times and entire processes did not conform to ethics of the House, hence our decision to challenge it in court.
“We have secured a court order in that respect and it will soon be made public. We won’t allow this matter to die just like that. Due process must be followed in all undertakings of the House.
“We have rules and regulations governing the conduct of any activity by the House and we will not allow anybody to deviate from the rules of the House.”