Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Umar Abubakar-Tafida, has dismissed claims that his replacement as Governor Nasir Idris’ running mate for the 2027 governorship election was necessitated by the Supreme Court judgment on the 2023 election.
Abubakar-Tafida spoke on Wednesday in Argungu when thousands of supporters, political associates and well-wishers visited his residence to sympathise with him following the decision by the All Progressives Congress to replace him with former Commissioner for Finance, Ibrahim Muhammad-Augie.
The deputy governor described attempts to link his replacement directly to the outcome of the 2023 governorship litigation as a deliberate effort by his political opponents to damage his reputation and political standing.
He said although he had accepted the decision as part of the dynamics of politics, he would not accept what he described as a “bogus” narrative designed to portray him negatively. 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 challenges that followed the 2023 election as justification 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 said.
He alleged that those promoting the narrative were motivated by a desire to tarnish his political image. “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 maintained that his replacement had not affected his relationship with Idris, stressing that both had worked together in the interest 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 remain calm, saying political offices were temporary and subject to the will of God. “Allah gives power to whom He wants. No man can change that,” Abubakar-Tafida said.
Despite his replacement, the deputy governor reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC and pledged continued support for President Bola Tinubu and Idris ahead of the 2027 elections.
“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, however, cautioned politicians against using political manoeuvring to destroy the reputation of individuals, saying political changes should be pursued in good faith and in the interest of the party.
“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. – Punch.
