Security Forces Block Kano Emir Sanusi’s Attempt to Appoint a District Head

A planned ceremony at the Kano Emir’s Palace, where Emir Lamido Sanusi was set to appoint a district head, was halted on Friday by security personnel. The move marks the latest development in the ongoing dispute surrounding the reorganization of Kano’s emirate councils.

The event, scheduled for the turbaning of Munir Sanusi as the new **Wamban Kano** and district head of Bichi, was abruptly interrupted as security forces blocked access to the palace. This action came in the wake of Governor Abba Kabir's controversial decision earlier this year to dissolve the Bichi Emirate, downgrading it to a district under the Kano Emirate.

The dissolution followed a Federal High Court ruling in June 2024, which nullified the Kano Emirate Council (Amendment No. 2) Law, 2024. This law had previously abolished four of the state’s five emirate councils, sparking tension between the factions led by Mr. Sanusi and Aminu Ado-Bayero, the former emir of Kano.

Sources indicate that the intervention by security operatives was based on a court order that barred both Mr. Sanusi and Mr. Ado-Bayero from performing any emirate-related activities pending the resolution of their legal battle over the Kano throne.

A senior police officer, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the operation was aimed at enforcing the court's directive to maintain the status quo. However, Abdullahi Kiyawa, the Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, did not respond to inquiries for an official statement.

Governor Abba Kabir’s decision to dissolve the Bichi Emirate and reassign Mr. Sanusi as the Emir of Kano has led to significant unrest in the state. Critics argue that the move undermines the autonomy of traditional institutions and intensifies the rivalry between the factions within Kano’s emirate system.

The appointment of district heads is a significant responsibility traditionally vested in the emirate councils. With the legal and political entanglements, such activities now face unprecedented hurdles.


The ongoing tussle over the Kano throne reflects deeper issues of governance, traditional authority, and political interference. While the court's intervention seeks to mediate the crisis, the lack of resolution has left the state’s traditional institutions in a precarious position.

As this situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the state government, the judiciary, and the traditional leaders will navigate these challenges to restore stability and trust in Kano’s leadership structures.