By Kabir Dan-Katsina, Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Senator Abubakar Umar Tafidan Kabi has said that he has accepted his replacement as the governor’s running mate in the forthcoming 2027 general elections as a will of Allah SWT but, not because of legal tussle concerning his credentials.
He, however, dismissed the claims that his replacement as Governor Nasir Idris’s running mate for the 2027 governorship election is linked to the Supreme Court judgment on the 2023 election.
Tafidan Kabi who spoke with journalists at his Residence in Argungu town on Wednesday when he hosted a dinner in honour of his teeming APC supporters who trooped to welcome him back from a trip and also to sympathise with him over his replacement, described the claim linking his replacement to the Supreme Court judgment as an attempt by his political opponents to disrespect the judgment surrounding the 2023 governorship election.
According to him, he has accepted the decision to replace him as the governor’s running mate as part of the dynamics of politics but, rejected attempts to portray the development as a consequence of the Supreme Court judgment, describing the narrative as capable of tarnishing his image.
He noted that to capitalise on the technicality presented to the Election Tribunal by the opposition party and later ruled upon by the Supreme Court, and “now to say that I should be replaced, was totally unbecoming which I will not accepted.”
Abubakar Tafida alleged that the narrative was part of a deliberate attempt by his political opponents to portray him negatively and damage his political career.
“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 said.
He added that his replacement had not affected his cordial relationship with Governor Idris, noting that they had worked together to advance the interests of the state.
“I have been working cordially with my governor, Nasir Idris and We have been doing a lot of things together for progress of Kebbi state and the Nigeria as whole,” Tafidan Kabi said.
He also believed that If what happened is about changes in politics for strategic purposes and winning elections there is no objection.
Tafidan Kabi further reaffirmed his loyalty to the ruling party in Kebbi State and the country, pledging to support President Bola Tinubu and Governor Idris ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We reiterate and maintain our total support and loyalty to APC, and we will continue to rally round our people to vote for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Nasir Idris in the 2027 general elections,” he said.
He urged his supporters and political associates to accept political developments as part of destiny, while cautioning against using political manoeuvring to destroy the reputation of individuals.
It would be recalled that on August 6 there was announcement that the Kebbi Deputy Governor, Senator Abubakar Umar Tafidan Kabi has been replaced by former Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad Augie, as Governor Idris’s running mate for the 2027 governorship election.
The announcement was made in Birnin Kebbi by the APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Muhammad Argungu, Jarman Kabi, who represented the party’s national chairman at a solidarity gathering by people from the Argungu Emirate.
Argungu said the decision followed consultations with relevant stakeholders and legal experts over the litigation surrounding the 2023 governorship election involving Abubakar Tafida.
“We appraised the 2023 litigation that engulfed the incumbent Deputy Governor.
“We held consultations with relevant stakeholders from the Tribunal to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, where the case terminated.
“The sincere advice by legal experts is to get another candidate in preparation for 2027,” APC’s national organising secretary said.
