I’m not involved in plot to unseat Buni, says ex-PDP guber candidate

The Yobe State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 election, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, has denied knowledge of any court process allegedly instituted with the aim of sacking the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, from office.

In the alleged suit filed at the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday, the plaintiffs allegedly argued that combining the governor’s office with another executive position is a constitutional violation.

• Use your power with humility, Ngige tells striking doctors
• PODCAST: NRC postpones Lagos – Kano Train Service

But in a statement he personally signed Friday, the former PDP governorship candidate said he; “suspected some disgruntled All Progressive Congress (APC) members who are aggrieved with their Ward Congress and some PDP elements may be behind the suit to unsettle the Buni.

“I am not aware of such a suit, I did not brief any lawyer to institute any case on my behalf, I did not authorise anyone to approach the court on my behalf, my name was fraudulently used as a co-plaintiff without my consent and authority.

“I think some members of my party, the PDP who were not happy with the success of the PDP State Congress conducted in April 2021 to also be behind the suit for record purpose, there are pending suits before the High Court Damaturu filed by them and may also use this means to frustrate those cases.

“I have instructed the team of my lawyers to investigate the matter and take appropriate steps required by law.

“It is laughable that those who instituted that case are not aware that my running mate in the 2019 election has defected to the APC.”

The court document shows that the PDP, along with Ambassador Damagum and his former running mate Baba Abba Aji, were listed as Plaintiffs who jointly instituted the suit to unseat governor Buni for taking the position of the Caretaker Chairman of the APC while still occupying the seat of the Governor of Yobe State.

The suit asked the court to sack governor Buni and his deputy and swear in PDP’s candidate in the last governorship election in the state as their replacement.