The crisis surrounding the Kano Emirate took a fresh and more confrontational dimension on Monday as loyalists of the deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero were reportedly forced out of the main palace in the heart of Kano. The development has further intensified the already volatile traditional dispute that has gripped the state since the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Several palace officials and their families, some of whom have lived within the royal premises for decades, were ordered to vacate their residences over alleged allegiance to the ousted monarch, Ado Bayero. The affected individuals are said to have remained in the palace despite the change in leadership and were viewed as unsupportive of the current emir, Sanusi II.
Reports from palace insiders alleged that the eviction process was carried out violently, with suspected hoodlums forcefully ejecting the occupants. In some instances, it was claimed that roofs of residential quarters within the palace complex were torn off to compel families to leave. The action reportedly triggered a tense standoff on Monday evening, as some of those targeted resisted the eviction and called for intervention.
Among those affected by the mass eviction are notable traditional officials including Galadiman Sallama, Sani Kwano; Dan-Habu Maji-Dadi; Sule Makama; Sarkin-Yakin Dan-Rimi; Sarkin Lema; Sarkin Tafarki; Baba Ta’aji; Oji Driver; Odiye Driver; and Bale na Sarkin Bichi. These individuals are widely regarded as long-standing functionaries of the emirate who maintained their loyalty to Ado Bayero following his controversial removal from office.
The latest incident adds a new layer of complexity to the legal and traditional tussle over the Kano throne. Aminu Ado Bayero, who was removed from the position of Emir in May 2024 by the current administration, has continued to contest his dethronement in court. Despite being ousted, he maintains a presence at a mini palace located within the emirate, from where he continues to operate with a loyal following.
Sanusi II, who was reinstated by Governor Yusuf shortly after the passage of a law repealing the creation of the four new emirates established by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, has since resumed duties at the central palace, sparking a power struggle that has fractured the emirate.
Since the reinstatement of Sanusi, who was originally dethroned in 2020, Kano has remained sharply divided, with traditional authority split between the two royal figures. Both Sanusi and Ado Bayero now preside over rival courts, creating confusion among district heads, council members, and traditional titleholders who are caught in the middle of the ongoing dispute.
The situation has continued to generate nationwide attention, raising concerns about the stability of the revered Kano Emirate, which holds historical, cultural, and political significance in northern Nigeria. As legal proceedings continue, the fate of the traditional structure hangs in the balance, with residents and observers alike anxiously watching to see how the unfolding drama will be resolved.
