KANO, Nigeria – The Kano State House of Assembly has repealed the creation of new emirates established by former Governor Umaru Ganduje, with the passage of the Kano Emirates Council Law (Repeal Bill) 2024 on Wednesday, May 23, 2024.
The bill, which received unanimous approval after its third reading, was sponsored by Lawan Hussaini Chediyar Yan Gurasa, the Majority Leader and representative of the Dala Constituency.
Under the new legislation, all offices instituted under the repealed law have been invalidated, and district heads elevated or appointed under the previous law are instructed to revert to their former positions.
The initial amendment of the Kano State Emirate Council Law in May 2019 decentralized the emirate system, ostensibly to reduce the authority of Muhammadu Sanusi, the then Emir of Kano. This move led to the creation of five emirates: Kano, Rano, Gaya, Karaye, and Bichi.
Following the deposition of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi on March 9, 2020, the law was amended to designate the chairman of the council as the emir of the Kano Emirate.
Section 12 of the legislation stipulates that the governor may classify the office of an emir as first, second, or third class, subject to the approval of the House of Assembly.
The reversal of the creation of new emirates marks a significant shift in Kano’s governance structure and is expected to have wide-reaching implications for the state’s traditional leadership system.
