Abba Kabir Yusuf
{{Short description|Nigerian politician (born 1963)}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Abba Kabir Yusuf
|honorific_prefix = His Excellency
|honorific_suffix =
|image =
|caption =
|office1 = Governor of Kano State
|deputy1 = Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo
|term_start1 = 29 May 2023
|term_end1 =
|predecessor1 = Abdullahi Umar Ganduje
|successor1 =
|office2 = Kano State Commissioner of Works, Housing and Transport
|governor2 = Rabiu Kwankwaso
|term_start2 = 2011
|term_end2 = 2015
|predecessor2 =
|successor2 =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|1|5|df=y}}
|birth_place = Gaya, Northern Region, Nigeria (now in Kano State)
|nationality = Nigerian
|party = New Nigeria Peoples Party (2022–present)
|otherparty = Peoples Democratic Party (1999–2022)
|spouse = 2
|relations = Rabiu Kwankwaso (father-in-law){{cite news|date=21 September 2018|title=Kwankwaso may endorse son in-law, Abba Yusuf, for Kano PDP governorship ticket|url=https://dailynigerian.com/kwankwaso-may-endorse-son-in-law-abba-yusuf-for-kano-pdp-governorship-ticket/|access-date=25 April 2020|work=Daily Nigerian|last=Jaafar|first=Jaafar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310115213/https://dailynigerian.com/kwankwaso-may-endorse-son-in-law-abba-yusuf-for-kano-pdp-governorship-ticket/|archive-date=10 March 2021|url-status=dead}}
|residence = Kano, Nigeria
|alma_mater = {{plainlist|
}}
|occupation = {{hlist|Politician|engineer}}
|profession = Civil Engineering
}}
Abba Kabir Yusuf (born 5 January 1963){{cite news|last=Mikailu|first=Naziru|date=5 April 2019|title=Yadda salon Abba gida-gida ya 'rikita' siyasar Kano|lang=ha|department=BBC News Hausa|agency=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/hausa/labarai-47530476|access-date=25 April 2020}} is a Nigerian politician who has served as governor of Kano State since May 2023. He served as commissioner of Works, Housing and Transport when Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso was re-elected for a second term in the executive council of Kano State from 2011 to 2015.
Early life and education
Abba Kabir Yusuf (born Abubakar, nicknamed Abba, which became his official name) was born to the sullubawa Fulani clan the ruling class of the Kano Emirate from the family of Malam Kabiru Yusuf and Malama Khadijatul-Naja'atu in Gaya Local Government Area of Kano State on 5 January 1963.{{cite news|url=https://www.kemifilani.ng/breaking-news/abba-kabir-yusuf-biography-age-kano-state-governor-elect-wife-net-worth|last=Onye|first=Harry|title=Abba Kabir Yusuf: Biography, age, Kano State Governor-elect, wife, net worth|agency=Kemi Filani News|date=20 March 2023|access-date=29 August 2024}}
Yusuf started his Islamic education at an early age under the guidance of his late grandfather, Danmakwayon Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Bashari (grandson of Galadiman Kano Yusuf and great grandson of Sarkin Kano Abdullahi Maje Karofi) who was then District Head of Gaya local government area of Kano State, Nigeria.
He attended Sumaila primary school between 1968 and 1975. He then proceeded to Government Secondary School Dawakin Tofa and later moved to Government Secondary school Lautai in Gumel where he completed his secondary education in 1980. He gained admission into the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi in the defunct Gongola State, now Adamawa State, where he bagged his National Diploma (ND) in Civil Engineering in 1985 and later obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Water Resources/Environmental Engineering in 1989 at the famous Kaduna Polytechnic.{{cite web|title=Kano State Governor|url=https://nggovernorsforum.org/index.php/the-ngf/governors/553-kano-state-governor|access-date=11 July 2024|website=nggovernorsforum.org}}{{cite web|date=20 March 2023|title=CLOSE-UP: Yusuf Abba, Kwankwaso's PA and son-in-law who will be governor of Kano|url=https://www.thecable.ng/profile-yusuf-abba-kwankwasos-pa-and-son-in-law-who-will-be-governor-of-kano/|access-date=11 July 2024|website=TheCable}}
Yusuf later enrolled at the Bayero University, Kano, where he obtained a postgraduate diploma and a master's degree in business administration.{{cite web|url=https://www.okay.ng/who-is-abba-kabir-yusuf-nine-facts-about-the-governor-elect-of-kano-state/|title=Who is Abba Kabir Yusuf? Nine Facts About the Governor-elect of Kano State|last=Muhammad|first=A. Aliyu|work=Okay|date=20 March 2023|access-date=29 August 2024}}
Career
Yusuf served the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps at Kaduna Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA) from 1989 to 1990.{{cite web|url=https://allnews.ng/state-governor-details/abba-kabir-yusuf|title=Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf|agency=AllNews|access-date=29 August 2024}}
He was appointed by Kano State Water Resources Engineering and Construction Agency (WRECA), where he held various positions.
President Umaru Musa Yaradua, appointed him as the chairman, Governing Board of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), Ondo State where he served between 2009 and 2011.
Political career
In 1999, Yusuf was appointed personal assistant to Rabiu Kwankwaso while he was the governor of Kano State; he was retained as personal assistant when Kwankwaso became a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2003.
Yusuf became Commissioner of Works, Housing and Transport in 2011, when Kwankwaso became the governor of Kano State for a second term.
In 2018, Yusuf was anointed by his boss Rabiu Kwankwaso{{cite news|title=Kwankwaso justifies choice of in-law as governorship aspirant|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nwest/286183-kwankwaso-justifies-choice-of-in-law-as-governorship-aspirant.html?tztc=1|access-date=10 April 2023|work=Premium Times}}{{cite news|last=Abdulhamid|first=Abdulyassar|date=20 March 2023|title=What you should know about NNPP's Abba Gida-Gida, Kano governor-elect|url=https://dailytrust.com/what-you-should-know-about-nnpps-abba-gida-gida-kano-governor-elect/|access-date=10 April 2023|work=Daily Trust}} to challenge the incumbent Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 gubernatorial election because of their differences. Kwankwaso had anointed Ganduje in 2014 while he was his deputy and he won the election in 2015. Yusuf lost, and filled his case before the election tribunal.{{cite news|title=Governor Ganduje a product of rigged election – Abba Kabir Yusuf|url=https://www.today.ng/news/politics/governor-ganduje-product-rigged-election-abba-kabir-yusuf-211372|date=11 April 2019|website=TODAY|access-date=6 May 2020}}{{cite news|title=Kano election: PDP's Kabir Yusuf reject governorship result|url=https://www.today.ng/news/politics/kano-election-pdps-kabir-yusuf-reject-governorship-result-207060|date=26 March 2019|website=TODAY|access-date=6 May 2020}}{{cite news|title=Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kano PDP governorship candidate Wins|url=https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/amp/news/277494/engr-abba-kabir-yusuf-kano-pdp-governorship-candidate-wins.html|work=The Nigerian Voice|access-date=6 May 2020}}{{cite news|title=Kano guber: I will win governorship rerun – Kwankwaso's son-in-law, Abba Kabir|url=https://dailypost.ng/2019/03/13/kano-guber-will-win-governorship-rerun-kwankwasos-son-law-abba-kabir/|last=Opejobi|first=Seun|work=Daily Post|date=13 March 2019|access-date=6 May 2020}} but after all, the court dismissed the case.{{cite news|url=https://blueprint.ng/abba-gida-gida-will-reclaim-his-stolen-mandate-in-court-kano-pdp-chairman/|title=Abba Gida Gida will reclaim his stolen mandate in Court -Kano PDP chairman|date=1 April 2019|work=Blueprint|access-date=25 April 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.dw.com/ha/kano-kotu-ta-kori-karar-abba-gida-gida-na-pdp/a-50681268|title=Kano: Kotu ta kori karar Abba gida-gida na PDP|agency=DW|date=2 October 2019|lang=ha|last=Ja'afar|first=Lateefa Mustapha|access-date=29 August 2024}}{{cite news|title=Ganduje v Kabir Yusuf: Security beefed up in Kano ahead of tribunal judgment|url=https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/10/02/ganduje-v-kabir-yusuf-security-beefed-up-in-kano-ahead-of-tribunal-judgment/|work=P.M. News|access-date=6 May 2020}}{{cite news|title=Ganduje vs Kabir-Yusuf: 785 witnesses to testify before Kano Tribunal|work=P.M. News|url=https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/07/13/ganduje-vs-kabir-yusuf-785-witnesses-to-testify-before-kano-tribunal/|access-date=6 May 2020}}{{cite news|title=Court nullifies Kano PDP guber primary, orders fresh election|url=https://guardian.ng/politics/court-nullifies-kano-pdp-guber-primary-orders-fresh-election/|work=The Guardian|last=Adewale|first=Murtala|date=5 March 2019|access-date=29 August 2024}}{{cite news|title=Court ruling: I'm Kano PDP gov candidate, Abba Yusuf insists|url=https://punchng.com/court-ruling-im-kano-pdp-gov-candidate-abba-yusuf-insists/|last=Odogwu|first=Ted|work=The Punch|date=5 March 2019|access-date=29 August 2024}}{{cite news|title=Abba: After Supreme Court, there is judgement of Allah|url=https://dailynigerian.com/abba-after-supreme-court-there-is-judgement-of-allah/|last=Usman|first=Mustapha|date=20 January 2020|work=Daily Nigerian|access-date=6 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424081012/https://dailynigerian.com/abba-after-supreme-court-there-is-judgement-of-allah/|archive-date=24 April 2020|url-status=dead}}
In 2022, Yusuf moved from the Peoples Democratic Party to the New Nigeria Peoples Party and was re-anointed by Kwankwaso to challenge Nasir Yusuf Gawuna in the 2023 elections. He was declared winner on 20 March 2023{{cite news|url=https://www.nannews.ng/2023/03/20/kano-guber-inec-declares-nnpps-abba-as-winner/|last=Garko|first=Aminu|title=Kano Guber: INEC Declares NNPP's Abba as Winner|agency=News Agency of Nigeria|date=20 March 2023|access-date=29 August 2024}}{{cite news|last=Oloyede|first=Clement A.|date=20 March 2023|title=INEC Declares NNPP Winner of Kano gov'ship election|url=https://dailytrust.com/breaking-inec-declares-nnpp-winner-of-kano-election/|access-date=10 April 2023|work=Daily Trust}} and was issued his certificate of return on 29 March 2023.{{cite news|last=Nwaokolo|first=Sandra|date=29 March 2023|title=Kano Gov-elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf, receives certificate of return|url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/kano-gov-elect-abba-kabir-yusuf-receives-certificate-of-return/|access-date=10 April 2023|work=Nigerian Tribune}}{{cite news|last=Usman|first=Mustapha|date=29 March 2023|title=Kano Governor-elect receives Certificate of Return, promises people-oriented governance|url=https://dailynigerian.com/kano-governor-elect-receives/|access-date=10 April 2023|work=Daily Nigerian}}
Governor of Kano State
Yusuf was elected governor of Kano State on 18 March 2023 under the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party alongside Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, his running mate.{{cite news|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/03/watch-moment-inec-declared-abba-kabir-yusuf-winner-of-kano-governorship-election/|title=Watch moment INEC declared Abba Kabir Yusuf winner of Kano governorship election|work=Vanguard|date=18 March 2023|access-date=29 August 2024}}{{cite news|date=20 March 2023|title=INEC declares NNPP's Abba Yusuf as Kano gov election winner|url=https://punchng.com/inec-declares-nnpps-abba-yusuf-as-kano-gov-election-winner/|last=Bolaji|first=Samuel|access-date=29 August 2024|work=The Punch}}{{cite news|last=Pai|first=Bilkisu Halilu|date=20 March 2023|title=INEC declares Abba Yusuf as Governor Elect for Kano state|url=https://von.gov.ng/inec-declares-abba-yusuf-as-governor-elect-for-kano-state/|access-date=10 April 2023|work=Voice of Nigeria}}
They were sworn into office on 29 May 2023.{{cite web|title=Photo News: Abba Kabir Yusuf sworn in as Kano Governor|url=https://kanofocus.com/2023/05/29/photo-news-abba-kabir-yusuf-sworn-in-as-kano-governor/|date=29 May 2023|access-date=1 June 2023}}
Outcome of Election Tribunal
After Abba Kabir's victory, the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has challenged the victory and filed a petition to the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. The Tribunal Court declared Nasir Gawuna of APC as the winner of the 18 March election on Wednesday, 20 September 2023, and sacked Abba Kabir, the candidate of NNPP, from the governor of Kano State.{{cite news|date=20 September 2023|title=Tribunal Sacks NNPP's Abba Kabir As Kano Governor|page=1|work=Channels TV|url=https://www.channelstv.com/2023/09/20/breaking-tribunal-sacks-nnpps-abba-kabir-as-kano-governor/amp/%3ffbclid=IwAR2Ri4YWT93PVqwQwSh2I8_y9g2Rt93rT9IUTAw0S0lZOZHX6dBFbBWTo2M/|access-date=20 September 2023}} Abba challenged the decision of the election petition tribunals at the court of appeal in Abuja and The Court of Appeal in Abuja sacked Abba Yusuf as governor of Kano State, upholding the decision of the lower election petition tribunal that earlier nullified the governor's election. After the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abba Kabir approached the Supreme Court to challenge the Court of Appeal's verdict. On 12 January 2024, the Supreme Court in Abuja overruled the Court of Appeal's decision and affirmed Abba Kabir Yusuf as the duly elected governor of Kano State.{{cite news|title=Breaking: Supreme Court Overrules Appeal Court, Affirms NNPP's Abba Kabir Yusuf As Kano Governor|agency=Sahara Reporters|url=https://saharareporters.com/2024/01/12/breaking-supreme-court-overrules-appeal-court-affirms-nnpps-abba-kabir-yusuf-kano|access-date=29 January 2024}}
Reinstatement of dethroned emir
On 23 May 2024, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf announced the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi, a former emir that was controversially dethroned by then-governor Umar Ganduje, as the new Emir of Kano. The governor signed the law returning him to palace at exactly 5:10pm alongside his deputy, the Speaker of the State Assembly and other principal officers in his administration.{{cite news|date=23 May 2024|title=Kano Gov Announces Return Of Sanusi As Emir - Daily Trust|url=https://dailytrust.com/breaking-kano-gov-announces-return-of-sanusi-as-emir/|last=Ibrahim|first=Salim Umar|access-date=29 August 2024|work=Daily Trust}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{KanoStateGovernors}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yusuf, Abba Kabir}}
Category:20th-century Nigerian politicians
Category:Bayero University Kano alumni
Category:Kaduna Polytechnic alumni
Category:Politicians from Kano
Category:Politicians from Kano State
Category:Governors of Kano State