Kano Information Commissioner Waiya Disowns Fake Press Release on Sallah Durbar Leadership.”
By Mutawakkilu
The Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs in Kano State, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, has disowned a press statement circulating online which claimed that the state government had taken a position on the leadership of the upcoming Sallah Durbar.
In a disclaimer issued on March 16, 2026, Waiya clarified that the statement being shared on social media and other platforms did not originate from his office and was not issued on behalf of the Kano State Government.
The controversial statement had alleged that the government dismissed reports suggesting that the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, would lead the forthcoming Sallah Durbar, while also claiming that the government had adopted a neutral stance pending the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings related to the Kano emirship dispute.
However, the commissioner described the circulating document as fake and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
“My attention has been drawn to the press statement credited to me. This is to inform the general public that the statement neither originates from my office nor was it issued on behalf of the Kano State Government,” Waiya said.
He further described the development as “an act of mischief deliberately orchestrated to mislead the public and create chaos.”
According to him, the matter has already been reported to security agencies, who have been tasked with identifying and apprehending those responsible for circulating the false information.
Waiya also condemned the act as irresponsible and unpatriotic, warning individuals against spreading unverified information capable of causing confusion among residents.
The circulation of the disputed statement comes amid heightened public interest in the leadership of the traditional Sallah Durbar in Kano, especially in light of the ongoing emirship dispute in the state.
The commissioner urged the public to disregard the statement and rely only on verified information from official government channels.