By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
Taraba State House of Assembly is reported to have concluded arrangements, including medical reports, to declare the ailing state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Aminu Alkari, incapacitated over his prolonged illness.
It was learnt that the governor might pick the incumbent deputy speaker and member representing Bali 1 at the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Hamman Adama Abdulahi, to succeed Alkari.
It is gathered that the order paper of the House of Assembly, which is slated to sit on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, has a communication from Governor Agbu Kefas to the house to declare the deputy governor incapacitated.
But the special adviser, media, and digital communication, Hon. Emmanuel Bello debunked the development, saying nothing of such is to happen.
“No one nominated anyone to be Deputy Governor to Dr Agbu Kefas! Disregard any fake news,” Bello
However, our correspondent gathered that the governor has since set up a medical team to examine the deputy governor’s prolonged ill health. The medical report is handed to the assembly before the commencement of the declaration.
“We resolve to take the member representing Bali 1, Hon. Hamman Adama Abdulahi to the governor this afternoon, as a show of solidarity and also to give the governor confidence that we are working on the same path. The deputy governor has been sick. It is in the public knowledge that the governor has tried to revive him to normal health over time.”
Our correspondent further gathered that the deputy governor, Aminu Alkari, has been seeking treatment since November 2024. Alkari was first taken to Abuja for medications. He further travelled to Saudi Arabia and later came back home in Jalingo, Taraba, state capital, without being healed.
THE LEGALITY OR OTHERWISE OF APPOITING A NEW DEPUTY GOVERNOR WITHOUT PROPER DECLEARATION OF EXISTING ONE AS INCAPABLE.
Commenting on the issue, a Jalingo based lawyer Solicitor Mujahi Mukhtar said that Constitutionally the Deputy Governor is to be removed on health grounds (i.e., physical or mental incapacity to discharge the functions of office).
“Section 189 of the 1999 Constitution, provides for the removal of a Governor or Deputy Governor on the grounds of permanent incapacity, either physical or mental. He gave processes to be taking to include,
Stage 1.
Removal on Health Grounds. Medical Allegation Raised a resolution is passed by two-thirds majority of the State House of Assembly stating that the Deputy Governor is incapable of discharging the functions of the office due to permanent physical or mental incapacity.
Stage 2.
Request for Medical Panel. Following the resolution, the Speaker of the House requests the Chief Judge of the State to constitute a medical panel.
Stage 3.
Constitution of Medical Panel. The Chief Judge appoints a five-member medical panel, which must include: At least one medical doctor who is a specialist in the area of the alleged incapacity.
Other members must be persons of unquestionable integrity.
Stage 4.
Medical Examination. The panel examines the Deputy Governor to determine whether they are suffering from such infirmity of body or mind as to make them permanently incapable of performing their duties.
Stage 5.
Panel Report. The panel submits a report to the Speaker of the House stating whether or not the Deputy Governor is indeed incapacitated.
Stage 6.
Final Resolution by the House. If the panel confirms permanent incapacity, the House of Assembly passes a second resolution (again by two-thirds majority) declaring the office vacant.
“Until all the above process passes the issue of new deputy governor will be addressed.
“This is not impeachment, and it does not require proof of misconduct, the focus is medical a fair and expert diagnosis is essential. The process must respect constitutional procedures and due process to avoid legal challenges.
“A case study of Governor Danbaba Suntai’s health crisis in 2012–2014), similar constitutional provisions were at play, though political interference often delayed or complicated the process.
“Another case study will be seen in the case of Obasanjo vs Atiku Abubakar 2007.
“Therefore if truly the new deputy governor has been appointed the process is null and void unconstitutional – he said.
Meanwhile the Mumuye community have reacted to on the choice of the replacement of the Deputy Governor.
In a statement signed by
Ishaku Bitrus Manang,
Secretary, CTC, MCDA and
Assoc. Prof. Alex Michael Malaze Chairman, CTC, MCDA gave instances of such happenings in the past and the solutions taking. The statement reads in parts,
“Following the widespread rumors regarding the purported nomination of Hon. Hamman Adama, the Deputy Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly from Bali II constituency to replace the ailing Deputy Governor, Hon. Aminu Alkali from Zing constituency.
“We sincerely appreciate the media aides handlers of the Taraba state Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas for publicly refuting the rumors in their entirety. However, as the adage goes, every rumor has an element of truth.
“As leaders of the Mumuye Cultural Development Association, we strongly and emphatically draw the attention of the Taraba state Government that in the event the seat of the ailing deputy governor is declared vacant and the need arises to replace him with another person, the established tradition of replacing deputy governors or any vacant political seats in Taraba state should be upheld.
“We wish to unequivocally state that the current administration under Dr. Agbu Kefas was ushered in with the overwhelming support of the Mumuye people from Zing, Yorro, Lau, Jalingo, Ardo-kola, Gassol, Bali, and Gashaka LGAs, and as such, the Mumuye people should be accorded their rightful place in the governance of the state.
“We vividly recall that during the tenure of His Excellency, the Revd Dr. Jolly T. Nyame as the Governor of Taraba state, when Barr. Uba Maigari was removed as the Deputy Governor of the state, he was replaced with Hon. Armayau, from the same tribe and zone.
“Similarly, during the era of His Excellency, Late Pharmacist Danbaba Danfulani Suntai of blessed memories, when Sen. Sani Danladi was removed as deputy governor, he was replaced with his kinsman, Hon. Garba Umar (UTC) from the same tribe and local government area.
“Furthermore, when Hon. Maihanci passed away immediately after his election as a member to represent the good people of Jalingo, Yorro, and Zing, in the rerun election to replace him, despite the clear indication that our son, Hon. Innocent Umar Jabayang, who contested under the platform of SDP, was coasting to victory, the PDP argued that the seat should be replaced with someone from the same local government (Jalingo LGA) as the deceased, and so it happened.
“If the current deputy governor, whom we pray daily to regain his health, must be replaced, in the interest of justice, equity, and good conscience, he should be replaced with a Mumuye person.
They commend the government, under the leadership of Dr. Agbu Kefas, for dispelling the toxic rumor of replacing the ailing deputy governor as fake and declaring that there is no vacancy in the deputy governor’s office.
“We wish to emphasize that in the event such a vacancy exists, there are eminently qualified sons and daughters of Mumuye land who can adequately occupy the vacancy. This is the collective voice of the Mumuye people.
They urge esteemed members of Mumuye land to remain calm and vigilant as they diligently follow the unfolding scenario.