Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has filed a suit asking the court to remove Mala Buni from office as Yobe governor.
The party in the suit dated and filed on August 12, said governor Buni violated Section 183 of the Constitution as a result of his acceptance to serve as chairman of the caretaker committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite holding the position of an executive governor.
Umar Damagum, PDP’s Yobe governorship candidate in the 2019 election, and his running mate, Baba Aji are the plaintiffs
According to TheCable, in the suit filed by Emeka Etiaba, their lawyer, PDP insisted that Buni ceased to be a governor from the moment he accepted to act as the caretaker committee chairman of the APC.
They, therefore, prayed the court for an order directing the Yobe chief judge or any other senior person next to the chief judge to immediately swear in Damagum and Aji as governor and deputy governor of the state, respectively, having emerged second in the 2019 governorship election in the state.
The PDP is taking on this development amid concerns raised following the judgment of the supreme court, which affirmed the election victory of Rotimi Akeredolu as governor of Ondo state.
In the 4:3 judgment which upheld Akeredolu as Ondo governor, the supreme court raised concern over the competence of governor Buni to conduct congresses and nominate candidates.
Festus Keyamo, minister of state for labour and employment in his review of the judgment, said for the party to avoid lawsuits, the APC should immediately suspend the congresses and replace Buni.
But the party dismissed his position.
Magnus Abe, a former senator and board member of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and Ovie Omo-Agege, deputy president of the senate, also disagreed with Keyamo’s position.
Meanwhile, APC Governors’ Forum has asked the Buni-led caretaker committee to organise an elective national convention.
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