Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has replaced his deputy, Senator Umar Tafida, with former Commissioner for Finance Ibrahim Muhammad Augie as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election.
According to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the move is due to legal concerns arising from the 2023 election.
The decision was announced on Sunday in Birnin Kebbi by the APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, during a gathering of supporters from the Argungu Emirate.
Argungu said the party had reviewed the legal issues surrounding Tafida, particularly the litigation that followed the 2023 governorship election, before arriving at the decision to replace him.
“We are here in our multitude from Argungu Emirate to thank the governor. In our meeting, we appraised the 2023 litigations that engulfed the incumbent Deputy Governor, Senator Tafida,” he said.
“We held consultations with relevant stakeholders in the courts, from the Tribunal to the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court, where the case terminated.
“The sincere advice by legal experts is to get another candidate ahead of 2027.”
The 2023 election had already been a difficult contest for Governor Idris. The initial March 18 poll was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after widespread cancellations and over-voting affected results in 20 of the state’s 21 local government areas.
The election was therefore completed through a supplementary poll on April 15, 2023, with Idris eventually defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Aminu Bande. Idris secured 409,225 votes against Bande’s 360,940, winning by just 48,285 votes.
Although the governor’s victory was eventually upheld by the Supreme Court, the APC said the litigation involving Tafida created legal concerns ahead of the 2027 election.
Argungu stressed that the deputy governor was not being removed because of poor performance.
“Tafida is dropped not on account of incompetence but because of legal hurdles. Tafida has consented to the choice of Ibrahim Muhammad Augie as his replacement for the deputy governorship, which he endorsed. Both of them are from Argungu Emirate,” he said.
However, Tafida’s camp has disputed the claim that he was consulted about the decision. His Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Yahaya Danjadda, said nobody consulted the deputy governor before Augie was presented as Idris’s new running mate.
Danjadda, in a Facebook post, said the suggestion that Tafida was aware of the meeting was an attempt to damage his reputation, insisting that his principal was not consulted over the proposed replacement.
The development comes as Idris prepares for a tougher 2027 contest, with former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, emerging as his major challenger under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Malami, who was previously a prominent APC figure, has since moved to the ADC and is seeking to unseat Idris.
Speaking on the change, Idris said there was no personal disagreement between him and Tafida, describing the decision as a political arrangement.
“All of us who are here have heard the narration by the APC national organising secretary on the matter.
“I have accepted the choice of the former Finance Commissioner, Ibrahim Muhammad Augie, as my running mate in the 2027 governorship election.
“I am adaptable to any circumstance. I can function with any person. Ibrahim Augie is a nice man. I have known him for a long time as a disciplined personality,” the governor said.
Idris also appealed to supporters in the Argungu Emirate to increase their support for his administration in 2027, pointing to projects executed in the area and the revival of the Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival.
“I have served the people of Argungu to their applause. I have not only revived the Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival but brought President Tinubu to witness the event, where he made remarkable comments about the festival.
“I have executed health and educational projects in the Emirate. It is worthwhile for them to triple their votes for me in the 2027 election,” he added.
Argungu, meanwhile, warned APC members against supporting opposition candidates while claiming loyalty to the party, saying the party would sanction those involved in anti-party activities.
“The APC will deal decisively with elements of anti-party syndrome.
“You cannot declare your love for the Governor or the President but not love the APC. Loyalty, love and obedience must be wholesome.
“We know that there is opposition, but we are watching every move they make. APC will go for total victory in the forthcoming polls,” he said.
The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Muhammadu Mera, also backed the choice of Augie. In a message delivered by his Senior Councillor, Kondudan Kabi, Ibrahim Hassan, the Emir said the Argungu Emirate accepted the decision and remained loyal to the governor.
“We are here together with all the councillors of the Emirate Council and 35 district heads to show solidarity and allegiance to our leader, Governor Nasir Idris,” he said.
The APC chairman in Augie Local Government Area, Bashir Mera, also endorsed the new running mate and pledged the support of party leaders in the area for the 2027 elections.
