Kebbi Deputy Governor Says His Replacement Is Not Due to Supreme Court Ruling

Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Umar Abubakar-Tafida, has rejected claims that his removal as Governor Nasir Idris’ running mate for the 2027 election was due to the Supreme Court ruling on the 2023 election.

Abubakar-Tafida spoke on Wednesday in Argungu. Thousands of supporters, political friends, and well-wishers came to his house to show support after the All Progressives Congress decided to replace him with former Commissioner for Finance, Ibrahim Muhammad-Augie.

The deputy governor said linking his removal to the 2023 election court case was a deliberate attempt by his political rivals to ruin his image and career.

He mentioned that while he accepted the decision as part of politics, he would not accept what he called a “bogus” story meant to paint him in a bad light. "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," he said.

Abubakar-Tafida said it was wrong to use the legal issues that followed the 2023 election as a reason for his replacement.

"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 stated.

He claimed that those spreading this narrative wanted to damage his political reputation. "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 added.

The deputy governor also said that his replacement had not harmed his relationship with Idris. He noted that they have worked together for the good 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.

He urged his supporters to stay calm, reminding them that political positions are temporary and depend on God's will. "Allah gives power to whom He wants. No man can change that," Abubakar-Tafida said.

Despite being replaced, the deputy governor confirmed his loyalty to the APC. He promised to keep supporting President Bola Tinubu and Idris as the 2027 elections approach.

"We reiterate and maintain our total support and loyalty to the 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 also warned politicians not to use political tricks to ruin others' reputations. He said political changes should be made in good faith and for the party's benefit.

"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.