Tuesday, August 18, 2026

APC Chairmanship: PDP asks court to sack Buni as Yobe governor

PDP governorship candidate for Yobe in the 2019 elections and another person instituted the case.

• August 12, 2021
Governor Mai Mala Buni and Umar Damagum
A composite of Governor Mai Mala Buni and Umar Damagum used to illustrate the story

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a legal battle to unseat Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni over his position as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress.

The opposition party, in a suit which has its chieftains from Yobe, Umar Damagum and Baba Aji as plaintiffs, is praying the court to declare that Mr Buni’s emergence as the Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee breached Section 183 of the country’s Constitution which bars a sitting executive from holding two offices at the same time, ThisDay reported.

Mr Damagum was PDP’s governorship candidate for Yobe in the 2019 election.

Emeka Etiaba, counsel to the plaintiffs in the suit held that Mr Buni ceased being a governor after accepting to be the chairman of APC caretaker committee.

The plaintiffs asked the court to prevail over Yobe State Chief Judge to immediately swear in Mr Damagum as governor  of Yobe State being the candidate that came second at the state’s governorship election in 2019.

The suit which was dated August 12 comes weeks after the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, called on Mr Buni to resign immediately, following the Supreme court’s judgement in the Ondo State governorship election appeal involving Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and Peoples Democratic Party’s Eyitayo Jegede.

The 4-3 split judgement by the judges dismissed Mr Jegede’s appeal on the singular ground that he did not join Mr Buni in the suit where he is centre to.

However, Mr Keyamo who is a member of the ruling party said the decision reached by judges of the apex court could be weaponised by persons aggrieved by the APC congresses and could challenge the competence of the Buni-led CECPC to organise the congresses and National Convention.

Countering Mr Keyamo, Attorney-General Abubakar Malami said the minister’s call for Buni’s removal as APC chairman was senseless and unwarranted.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

A hacker on a computer used to illustrate the story.

Economy

Nigerian businesses offered platform to fight AI-driven cybercrime

Digital Encode, a Nigerian cybersecurity company, says it has deployed an AI platform to help organisations fight increasingly sophisticated cybercrime.

Murtala library

States

Kano assembly seeks modernisation of Murtala library to boost reading culture

The Kano State House of Assembly has urged the state government to urgently undertake a total overhaul and facelift of the state-owned library.

APM members in Bauchi

States

APM wins Bauchi local govt elections

Some opposition parties boycotted the elections, alleging that the exercise contravened the 2026 Bauchi State Electoral Act.

Kevin Lamour with Infantino

Sport

FIFA sacks chief operating officer after criticising Infantino’s investment plan

Mr Lamour’s dismissal was confirmed by a FIFA spokesperson, who said the COO would be relieved of his responsibilities effective Monday.

Oyebamiji, Disu, Adeleke

States

Oyebamiji begs Adeleke, IGP Disu to stop post-election violent attacks on APC members

“I wish to alert the state government and security agents to the growing trend of hostility and violence against our members and supporters,” Mr Oyebamiji said on Tuesday.

Ronaldo with family

Hot news Home top

‘This is probably my last year of football,’ says Ronaldo

“This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” said Ronaldo.