The names are:

• Alhaji Bashir Aminu, Iyan Zazzau who scored 89 marks,
• Alhaji Muhammed Munnir Jafaru, Yariman Zazzau with 87, and
• Alhaji Aminu Shehu Idris, Turakin Karamin Zazzau who scored 53 marks.

The kingmakers are currently meeting Governor El-Rufa’i at Sir Kasim Ibrahim Government House.

The nominees: who are they?

Bashir Aminu, Iyan Zazzau.

He was born in 1951 into the ruling house of Katsinawa. He has a bachelors in accounting from Ahmadu Bello University from 1975. He was district head of Sabon Gari from 1979 to 2018. He scored 89 marks.

Muhammed Munnir Jafaru, Yariman Zazzau.

He was born in 1956 into the ruling house of Barebari. He holds a masters in law from 1983. He was director-general of NMA (now NIMASA) from 1992 to 1996. He is presently district of Basawa since 2018. He scored 87.

Aminu Shehu Idris, Turakin Karamin.

He was born in 1976 into the ruling house of Katsinawa. He holds a masters in international economics from Westminster University, London, from 2003. He is a supervisor for joint venture/third-party financing at NNPC. He scored 53.

Meeting to select

The meeting to select the three princes for the stool of Zazzau was chaired by the Wazirin Zazzau, Alhaji Ibrashim Muhammad Aminu who is the chairman of the kingmakers.

Other kingmakers who attended the meeting included Fagachin Zazzau, Alhaji Umaru Muhammad, Makama Karamin Zazzau, Alhaji Muhammad Abbas, Chief Imam of Zazzau, Alhaji Dalhatu Kasimu Imam and Limamin Konan Zazzau, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Aliyu.

The kingmakers received application from 11 princes from all the four ruling houses of the emirate.

The Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasiru El-Rufa’i is expected to pick the new emir from the shortlisted candidates.

Selecting a new emir not open

Not all members of the royal families can contest as it is exclusively reserved for princes from different dynasties in the Emirate whose biological fathers or grandfathers had been emirs.

Formal educational qualifications are not of much significance, but the royal background and character of the contestants, as well as the decision of the kingmakers and finally the state governor.

Tradition demands a speedy but diligent process for the selection of a new emir upon the demise of the incumbent.

This is to safeguard the unity of the emirate and to avoid division among the princes, as each has his supporters within the palace.