My replacement not because of Supreme Court verdict — Kebbi dep gov

Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Umar Abubakar-Tafida, has refuted claims that his replacement as Governor Nasir Idris's running mate for the 2027 governorship election is a consequence of the Supreme Court's judgment on the 2023 election. He spoke on Wednesday in Argungu, where thousands of supporters visited him following the All Progressives Congress's decision to replace him with Ibrahim Muhammad-Augie, a former Commissioner for Finance.

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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.

Abubakar-Tafida characterized attempts to connect his removal to the election litigation outcome as a "deliberate effort" by political adversaries to harm his reputation. While accepting the decision as a political dynamic, he rejected the "bogus" narrative aimed at portraying him negatively. "Whatever has happened, we have no objection because whatever is done is done with the permission and will of Allah," he stated, adding, "There is nothing permanent in life."

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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 argued that it is incorrect to use the legal challenges from the 2023 election as justification for his replacement. "But to capitalize 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 this narrative are motivated by a desire to tarnish his political image permanently.

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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.

Despite the change, Abubakar-Tafida stressed that his relationship with Governor Idris remains cordial, and they have worked together for the state's benefit. He urged his supporters to remain calm, emphasizing that political offices are temporary and subject to God's will. He reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC and pledged continued support for Governor Idris.

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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.