Kano Emirate Crisis Festers As Emir Bayero Appoints Rival ‘Galadima’

In a move likely to further escalate the Kano emirship tussle, embattled Emir Aminu Ado Bayero has appointed his older brother and Wamban Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero, as the Galadiman Kano, days after Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II had appointed Alhaji Mannir Sanusi into the same prestigious position, reserved for Kano Emirate Prince.

The latest appointment, conveyed in a letter dated April 21, 2025, and signed by Senior Administrative Officer Awaisu Abbas Sanusi, invited Sanusi Ado Bayero to appear at the Nasarawa Palace Mosque on May 2, 2025, for his official installation.

Emir Sanusi II, who was in June 2024 reinstated to the throne amid a backdrop of political controversy, had earlier approved the promotion of Mannir Sanusi to the Galadima position following the death of Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, the former Galadiman Kano.

Late Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, a respected elder in the Emirate, passed away in March 2025 after a prolonged illness, leaving one of the Emirate’s most senior and symbolic titles vacant. His death had set the stage for fresh competition over the strategic title, which is traditionally seen as a stepping stone to even greater influence within the royal court of Kano.

The appointments by rival Kano Emirs have deepened uncertainty over the future of the Kano Emirate headship as both parties await the Supreme Court for final adjudication on who is the actual Emir of Kano.