The under-fire Chairman of the Taraba State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Bawa, has taken action against his recent removal from office by filing an appeal in the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, Yola Judicial Division.
The State High Court, presided over by Justice Nuhu Adi, had sacked Bawa, declaring his appointment as the party’s substantive chairman “unconstitutional.” Dissatisfied with the judgment delivered on July 17, 2023, Bawa made his intentions clear on Sunday in Jalingo, providing journalists with copies of his notice of appeal.
In the notice of appeal, Bawa expressed his dissatisfaction with the trial court’s decision, stating, “The applicant, who was the second defendant before the trial court, being dissatisfied with the judgment of the Taraba State High Court of Justice, Jalingo Judicial Division, do hereby appeal to the Court of Appeal.”
The protracted leadership tussle between Bawa and Alhaji Inuwa Bakari has had severe repercussions for the party, culminating in the closure of the party’s secretariat. Both Bawa and Bakari continue to lay claim to the chairmanship position, intensifying the crisis. The Taraba State Police Command has intervened, ordering both factions to stay away from the party’s premises until the conflict is resolved amicably.
Despite the governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, forming a committee to mediate and find a resolution, the disagreement remains unresolved and has further escalated, causing significant strain within the party.
