Kano State Assembly abolishes emirates created by Ganduje

The five Emirs of the state have been overthrown and declared extinct by the Kano State House of Assembly.

The event happened after the MPs convened in a special session on the house floor, with Speaker RT. Hon. Jibrin Falgore presiding.

The Assembly has passed the Kano Emirates Council Law (Repeal Bill) 2024 at the resumed process, having reached the third reading.

The new bill has abolished all the offices created under the law that was repealed.

Additionally, any district chiefs who were promoted or appointed under the law that was abolished must return to their prior roles.

Majority Leader Lawan Hussaini Chediyar Yan Gurasa, a member representing the Dala Constituency, proposed the Kano State Emirates Council (Amendment number 2) Law, 2024.

Recall that the law which created five new emirates was first assented to by ex-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on December 5, 2019.

The governor assented to an amendment to the law on 14 October, 2020 and signed another amendment on 11 April, 2023.

Section 3(1) of the law established five distinct emirates; Kano, Bichi, Rano, Gaya and Karaye, with Kano and Karaye having eight local government areas of jurisdiction each, while Bichi and Gaya emirates share 9 local government areas of jurisdiction each, Rano Emirate enjoys jurisdiction over 10 local government areas out of the 44 local councils in the state.

When Emir Muhammadu Sanusi, who chaired the council, was deposed on March 9, 2020, the law was amended to read: “There shall be the chairman of the council who shall be the emir, Kano Emirate”.

Section 12 provides that the governor may grade the office of an emir first, second, or third class subject to the approval of the House of Assembly.

A principal officer of the assembly, who did not want his name mentioned, said “no Jupiter can stop the assembly from amending the law.”