Kingmakers of the Zazzau Emirate in Kaduna State have excluded Ahmed Bamalli, a man considered as the closest prince to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, from the list of nominees for the vacant seat of Emir of Zazzau.
The race is on to replace Shehu Idris, the monarch who died on Sunday after occupying the throne for over 45 years.
Parts of the report prepared by the five kingmakers, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, show that the kingmakers screened and forwarded only three names, from which the governor is expected to make a choice.
This newspaper gathered that eight princes wrote to the kingmakers to indicate interest in the position.
Sources familiar with the process confirmed the decision of the kingmakers to this newspaper.
The kingmakers are Wazirin Zazzau, Ibrahim Aminu, Makaman Zazzau, Muhammad Abbas, Fagachin Zazzau, Umar Muhammad, Limamin Gari, Dalhatu Kasim, and Limamin Kona Muhammad Aliyu.
Attempts to speak with the chairman of the five-man kingmakers’ committee, the Wazirin Zazzau, Ibrahim Aminu, on Friday were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls placed to his known number.
The three-page report gave its verdict on the two-stage selection process followed on three princes. Those graded were the Iyan Zazzau, Bashar Aminu; the Yariman Zazzau, Munir Ja’afaru; and the Turakin Zazzau, Aminu Idris.
The report stated that those vying for the post were graded on seven parameters.
