Tensions within the Kano Emirate reached a new crescendo today as rival Emirs—Muhammadu Sanusi II and Aminu Ado Bayero—conducted separate and simultaneous turbaning ceremonies for the traditional title of Galadiman Kano, a move that underscores the deepening rift in the historic emirate system.
The dual ceremonies, held in different parts of Kano, come amid an ongoing power struggle rooted in the controversial restructuring of the Kano Emirate in 2020 and recent political shifts following the 2023 elections. Sanusi, who was reinstated by state authorities earlier this year amid widespread public support, presided over his ceremony at the Kano Emir's Palace, while Bayero, who has refused to relinquish the throne, held his version at the Nasarawa Palace, backed by a rival faction.
Both turbanings featured traditional pageantry and drew notable figures from politics, business, and the clerical establishment, each side asserting legitimacy over the centuries-old institution. The contested title of Galadiman Kano—a senior kingmaker role—holds strategic influence within the emirate's hierarchy and its allocation is seen as a symbolic consolidation of authority.
State security forces maintained a heavy presence around both events to forestall potential clashes, and the Kano State Government has yet to issue an official statement on the parallel ceremonies.