PDP asks court to sack Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, commenced legal action for the removal of Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, and his deputy, Idi Barde Gubana from office, while asking the court to install Ambassador Umar Iliya of the PDP as governor, over alleged breach of constitutional provisions barring a sitting executive from holding two offices at the same time.

The PDP, in the suit dated and filed August 12 at the Federal High Court, is specifically alleging that Buni violated section 183 of the Constitution when as a governor he accepted to serve as Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The plaintiffs, which include Umar Damagum and Baba Aji, in the suit filed by Chief Emeka Etiaba (SAN), insisted that Buni ceases to be a governor from the moment he accepted to act as APC Caretaker Committee Chairman.

The plaintiffs therefore asked the court for an order directing the Yobe State Chief Judge or any other senior person next to the Chief Judge to immediately swear in Umar Iliya and Daguma Baba Abba Aji as Governor and Deputy Governor of Yobe State, being candidates of the party that came second in the 2019 governorship election.

Also, governors elected on the platform of the APC have asked the Buni-led caretaker committee to organise an elective national convention.

The PDP, in an originating summons, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/885/2021, which was filed yesterday, is predicating its plea on the judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on July 28, 2021.

Listed as defendants in the suit are Mai Mala Buni, Idi Barde Gubana, the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It further urged the court to declare that having regard to the clear provisions of section 187 (1) of the 1999 Constitution and the state of law, Idi Barde Gubana of the APC cannot lawfully occupy the office of the governor or deputy of Yobe upon cessation of the Buni occupation of the office of governor of Yobe State.

The party is seeking a declaration that the action of Mai Mala Buni as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC while he remains the governor of the state is wrongful, null and void.