The Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State Capital on Friday gave an order of interim injunction restraining Alhaji Abubakar Bawa from functioning as the state Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Justice Bala Usman issued the order in response to the application by the erstwhile acting Chairman of the party Mr. Inuwa Bakari, challenging the recent appointment of Bawa as the state chairman of the party.

A Certified True Copy of the injunction obtained by our Correspondent in Jalingo read in part that “upon this MOTION EX-PARTE dated the 31st day of March 2023 and filed on the same date coming up before this Honourable Court praying for the following reliefs:

“AN ORDER of INTERIM INJUNCTION restraining the 2nd Defendant Abubakar Bawa from acting, carrying out functions, and parading himself as the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Taraba State chapter pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“AN ORDER restraining the 1st Defendant from taking any step (s) that may negatively affect the membership right of the Plaintiff as the acting chairman of the 1st Defendant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“AN ORDER restraining the 1 Defendant by itself or any of its organs at any level from expelling, suspending, reprimanding, censuring, fining, department from any party office and removal of the Plaintiff from office pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“AND for such further or other Order(s) as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances”. 

The Injunction further read that “upon reading the affidavit in support of the Motion paper, sworn to by one Alhaji Bakari Inuwa, Male, Adult, Nigerian Citizen, of Old Pantisawa Road, Nyamusala, Jalingo, Taraba State, filed in the Registry of this Court on the 31st day of March 2023, and after hearing Chief C. C. Damba Mbanaso, Esq. of Counsel for the Plaintiff/Applicant moved in terms of the Motion paper, it is hereby ordered as follows:

“That an order of INTERIM INJUNCTION is hereby granted restraining the 2nd Defendant Abubakar Bawa from acting, carrying out functions, and parading himself as the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Taraba State chapter pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“That an Order is made restraining the 1st Defendant from taking any step (s) that may negatively affect the membership right of the Plaintiff as the acting chairman of the 1st Defendant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“That an Order is made restraining the 1 Defendant by itself or any of its organs at any level from expelling, suspending, reprimanding, censuring, fining, debarment from any party office and removal of the Plaintiff from office pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice”.

Justice Usman, however, announced that the matter is adjourned to the 9th of May, 2023 for a hearing.

Recalled that Governor Darius Ishaku had recently appointed his Senior Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa as the state Chairman of the party, a move some people described as trying to control the party machinery even after leaving office on May 29th.

When contacted through telephone, the embattled party Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa confirmed that he was aware of the court case but did not receive any surmon.

“Frankly speaking I don’t know anything but I heard that I was taken to court but nobody bring a surmon to me, nobody call me and I did not go to the court, that is the only thing I know,” Bawa added.

When asked whether he will still go to the office on Monday, Abubakar Bawa said “I am a law-abiding citizen, so, since the court has given an order I will comply.”

Executive members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ketembere Ward Shelleng Local Government Area of Adamawa State have suspended a Former Senator representing Adamawa South and Director General Binani Campaign Organization, Senator Ahmed Hassan Barata for alleged anti-party activities.

Barata’s suspension was contained in a letter made available to newsmen in Yola dated March 30, 2023, and addressed to Senator Ahmed Barata and copied to APC Chairman Shelleng local government Area.

The letter titled: “Suspension From Being a Member All Progressives Congress APC,” was signed by the Chairman and the Secretary of the party alongside all other members of the executive of the ward.

According to them, the resolution to suspend Barata was arrived at during a meeting of the ward executive, which held on March 27, 2023, in Ketembere

“with due regards to all relevant sections of article 21 of the All Progressives Congress constitution, 2022 as amended which as well empowers the ward executive committee to take disciplinary measures against any erring members irrespective of his or her status, we the Exco member of this ward therefore, have resolved in our 27 March, 2023 meeting to suspend you on the following grounds.”

According to the allegations, by the party ward executive as stated in the letter addressed to the Senator Ahmed Hassan Barata.

“Anti Party activities during the 18 March, Governorship and House of Assembly Election.”

“Impersonation of the party by appointment of agents in same election as mentioned above.”

“Being a principal actor in causing crisis at the polling unit between agent sent by the party and those you sent during the 18 March Governorship and House of Assembly Election.”

“And withhold of relief food items sent to party faithful before election by the APC Governorship Candidate, Distinguish Senator Aisha Ahmed Binani.” The statement reads.

The statement added that, in view of the decision therefore, all the relevant authorities including organs of the zone and State, security agencies and members of the public will be dully informed.

Taraba State Governor-elect, Col. Kefas Agbu (Rtd) has pledged to transform the state within his hundred days in office.

Agbu made the promise on Wednesday while addressing a large gathering at his house shortly after he received the certificate of return from the resident Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Umar Muktar Gajiram in Jalingo.

The Governor-elect, Col. Kefas Agbu (Rtd) alongside his Deputy, Alhaji Aminu Alkali while thanking the people of Taraba State for believing in them and giving them the mandate also promised to run an all-inclusive government.

“I promise you that by the grace of God, we will have unity, peace, and development. 

“We will create job opportunities for the teaming unemployed youth, and by his grace, we will do everything that a government supposes to do for its citizens to make Taraba great,” Agbu assured.

According to the Governor-elect, (rtd) Col. Kefas Agbu, the issue of religion is between man and God, therefore, he urged the people of the state to embrace one another and pray for the incoming administration.

“I am also urging you whenever you see us doing something that you feel is wrong, you should please call our attention in decent manners but not with insults, and I promise you we are going to carry everyone along,” he emphasized.

Some supporters and well-wishers who spoke to SAHEL REPORTERS Comrade Mannsir Audu from Gashaka, the former PDP state Women leader, Hon. Felicia Kaletus and the Taraba State Chairman of Rescue Teachers, Comrade Sylvanus Acha prayed for the new administration of (rtd) Col. Kefas Agbu for God’s guidance, and expressed optimism that the new government will change the narrative of the state in terms of development.

“Our expectations from his administration are very high from this new administration but we are very optimistic that he will do much better,”.

However, some elected new members into the Taraba State House of Assembly Mr. Nelson Len from the Nguroje constituency, and Mrs. Veronica Alhassan from the Bali I constituency all under the platform of the people’s Democratic Party PDP, appreciated their constituents and promised them good representation.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Veronica Alhassan and Hajiya Batulu Muhammed who also won the state house of assembly seat under the platform of the All Progressives Congress APC from Gashaka will be the two female legislators among the twenty-four house of assembly members in the state.