Pressure Mounts as APC Chieftain Alleges Tinubu’s Camp Pushes Garo for Deputy Governor Slot

|By Adejumo Adekunle

A public affairs analyst and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Habib Dawanan, has raised alarm over what he describes as intense political pressure on Abba Yusuf to appoint Murtala Garo as deputy governor.

In a strongly worded statement, Dawanan alleged that forces within the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu are actively pushing for Garo’s emergence, warning that such a move would undermine democratic principles and the rule of law.

He described the alleged interference as a “direct assault on the rule of law,” arguing that elevating an embattled figure to the position of deputy governor could shield the individual from prosecution by conferring constitutional immunity.

Dawanan further condemned the development as a “glaring double standard,” particularly in the wake of the resignation of former Deputy Governor Aminu Abdulsalam. He warned that the nomination appears to be a calculated attempt to “secure backdoor immunity” for a candidate facing legal scrutiny.

“It will ridicule the office of the governor and compromise the integrity of the legislature,” he cautioned.

The APC chieftain urged President Tinubu to refrain from interfering in the state’s internal affairs, insisting that Governor Yusuf must be allowed to independently select his deputy in line with democratic norms.

The controversy follows recent political realignments, including Yusuf’s reported defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the APC, a move that has further intensified political calculations ahead of future contests.

As tensions escalate, the unfolding situation is expected to test the balance between political influence and institutional integrity in the state.