My Replacement Was Not Because of Supreme Court Verdict — Kebbi Deputy Gov

By Yusuf Gwandu

The Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Umar Abubakar-Tafida, has rejected claims linking his replacement as Governor Nasir Idris’ running mate to the Supreme Court judgment on the 2023 governorship election.

Abubakar-Tafida stated this on Wednesday in Argungu when thousands of supporters, political associates and well-wishers visited his residence to sympathise with him following his replacement by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He described the narrative linking his replacement to the Supreme Court judgment as an attempt by those opposed to his candidature to exploit the 2023 governorship election litigation to tarnish his image.

The deputy governor said he had accepted the decision to replace him as the governor’s running mate as part of the dynamics of politics.

He, however, rejected attempts to portray the development as a consequence of the Supreme Court judgment, describing the narrative as “unbecoming and bogus.”

“Whatever has happened, we have no objection because whatever is done is done with the permission and will of Allah.

“Whatever a person does can never be effective without the permission of Allah.

“There is nothing permanent in life. With politics or without politics, you can still progress in life if God so wishes.

“But to capitalise on the technicality presented to the Election Tribunal by the opposition party and later ruled upon by the Supreme Court, and now say that I should be replaced, was totally unbecoming and bogus,” he said.

Abubakar-Tafida alleged that the narrative was part of a deliberate attempt by his political opponents to portray him negatively and damage his political standing.

“The motive of those peddling these lies is to tarnish my political image for eternity. We will never succumb to that.

“We will continue to tell the true story of what happened.

“Whoever does something to tarnish my image, I have left them with Allah. He will judge them on their mission,” he said.

He stressed that his replacement had not affected the cordial relationship between him and Governor Idris, noting that they had worked together to advance the interests of the state.

“I have been working cordially with my governor, Nasir Idris. We have been doing a lot of things together.

“If what happened is about changes in politics for strategic purposes and winning elections, we have no objection to that,” he said.

The deputy governor said he had accepted the governor’s decision in good faith, adding that political positions were temporary and subject to the will of Allah.

“Allah gives power to whom He wants. No man can change that,” he said.

Abubakar-Tafida also reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC and pledged to support President Bola Tinubu and Governor Idris ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We reiterate and maintain our total support and loyalty to APC, and we will continue to rally round our people to vote for President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Nasir Idris to be re-elected in the 2027 general elections,” he said.

He urged his supporters and political associates to accept political developments as part of destiny, while cautioning against using political manoeuvring to destroy the reputation of individuals.

“As Muslims, we believe in the destiny of a man, but let that happen naturally or with the intention of moving the party and our candidates to emerge victorious.

“When you do that to tarnish the image of someone, it is unacceptable and malicious,” he said.

Earlier, Alhaji Kabiru Dan-Ankara, an APC chieftain in Argungu Local Government Area, described Abubakar-Tafida as a longstanding philanthropist and grassroots politician who had contributed significantly to the welfare of his constituents.

Dan-Ankara said the deputy governor had assisted less-privileged members of society even before joining politics and had maintained the same disposition after assuming political office.

“Abubakar-Tafida is a man whom we know has helped a lot of his constituents in Argungu in particular and the people of Kebbi in general.

“We have known him since before he joined politics. He has remained the same even after joining politics, helping less-privileged people in the society,” he said.

It could be recalled that the APC announced on Aug. 16 that Abubakar-Tafida had been replaced by former Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad-Augie, as Governor Idris’ running mate for the 2027 governorship election.

The announcement was made in Birnin Kebbi by the APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Muhammad Argungu, Jarman Kabi, who represented the party’s National Chairman at a solidarity gathering by people from the Argungu Emirate.

Argungu said the decision followed consultations with relevant stakeholders and legal experts over the litigation surrounding the 2023 governorship election involving Abubakar-Tafida.

“We appraised the 2023 litigations that engulfed the incumbent Deputy Governor.

“We held consultations with relevant stakeholders in the courts, from the Tribunal to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, where the case terminated.

“The sincere advice by legal experts is to get another candidate in preparation for 2027,” Argungu said.