Why governor Idris dropped his deputy ahead of 2027
Political tension is beginning to emerge within the Kebbi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The development followed Governor Nasir Idris’ decision to replace his deputy, Umar Abubakar-Tafida, with former Commissioner for Finance, Ibrahim Muhammad Augie, as his running mate for the 2027 election.
The decision has put Governor Idris, Tafida and Augie at the centre of a fresh political controversy.
The announcement was made on Sunday at the Presidential Lodge in Birnin Kebbi by the APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Muhammad Argungu, during a visit by stakeholders from the Argungu Emirate to the governor.
Argungu said the decision was based on legal advice concerning Tafida’s eligibility to remain on the governor’s ticket for the 2027 election.
He said the APC considered legal issues arising from the 2023 governorship election before choosing Augie as Idris’ new running mate.
According to him, Tafida understood and accepted the decision, adding that there was no disagreement between the governor and his deputy.
However, the claim was later disputed by Tafida’s aide, Yahaya Danjadda, the Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on New Media.
Danjadda said Tafida was not consulted before Augie was presented as the new running mate.
He described the claim that the deputy governor agreed to the decision as an attempt to damage Tafida’s reputation.
Why Tafida was replaced
After the 2023 governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Aminu Bande, challenged the APC’s victory in court.
One of the issues raised in the case was an allegation that Tafida submitted a forged secondary school testimonial.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the allegation in November 2023 and upheld Idris’ election.
The matter was later taken to the Supreme Court, which affirmed Idris’ election on January 19, 2024.
Argungu said the APC’s decision to replace Tafida was based on legal advice concerning his eligibility to contest again alongside Governor Idris in 2027.
However, the APC has not publicly explained the specific legal issue that would prevent Tafida from remaining on the ticket.
Tafida has now rejected claims that the Supreme Court judgment was the reason for his replacement.
The deputy governor spoke on Wednesday in Argungu when supporters, political associates and well-wishers visited him following the announcement.
Tafida said linking his replacement directly to the outcome of the 2023 election case was an attempt to damage his political image.
He said he had accepted the decision as part of the realities of politics but rejected what he described as a false explanation for his removal from the 2027 ticket.
Tafida said using the issue raised during the election tribunal proceedings and later decided by the Supreme Court as a reason to replace him was “totally unbecoming and bogus.”
He accused those promoting the narrative of trying to tarnish his reputation and said he would continue to explain his side of the matter.
Despite his concerns, Tafida said he had no objection to the political change if it would strengthen the APC and improve the party’s chances in the 2027 election.
He also appealed to his supporters to remain calm, saying political positions were temporary and could change.
The controversy does not mean Tafida has been removed from his current position as Deputy Governor of Kebbi State. It only concerns his replacement as Governor Idris’ running mate on the APC’s 2027 governorship ticket.