The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State has named former Commissioner for Finance, Ibrahim Muhammad Augie, as the new running mate to Governor Nasir Idris for the 2027 governorship election, replacing the incumbent Deputy Governor, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida, on the party’s proposed ticket.
The decision was announced on Sunday at the Presidential Lodge in Birnin Kebbi by APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Muhammad Argungu, during a meeting with stakeholders from the Argungu Emirate.
According to Argungu, the change followed professional legal advice concerning Tafida’s eligibility to remain on the ticket for the 2027 election.
Importantly, the announcement concerns the 2027 electoral ticket. It should not automatically be interpreted as an announcement that Tafida has been removed from his current constitutional office as deputy governor. The official Kebbi State Government website still lists Umar Abubakar Tafida as the serving deputy governor.
Why APC Changed the Running Mate
Argungu said the decision to replace Tafida was reached after legal considerations surrounding his eligibility for the next election.
He also sought to prevent the development from being interpreted as a political crisis within the Kebbi APC, saying Tafida understood and consented to the decision.
The APC official urged party members and supporters to accept the arrangement and concentrate on maintaining unity ahead of the 2027 contest.
Governor Nasir Idris similarly rejected suggestions that the change reflected a disagreement between him and his deputy.
The governor said he would work with Augie and appealed to APC supporters to remain united and focused on the administration’s development agenda.
Who Is Ibrahim Muhammad Augie?
Augie is a former Commissioner for Finance in Kebbi State. He served during the administration of former Governor Atiku Bagudu and is from Augie Local Government Area.
His selection therefore brings a politician with previous experience in the state’s executive administration into the APC’s 2027 governorship campaign.
The choice also comes at a significant point in Kebbi’s political calendar, following the APC’s earlier decision to retain Governor Nasir Idris as its candidate for another term.
In May 2026, APC stakeholders across Kebbi endorsed Idris as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election. Reports from the exercise said delegates from the state’s 225 wards participated in the affirmation.
Idris’ Second-Term Bid Already Underway
The latest running-mate decision is another step in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 election.
Governor Idris had earlier submitted his APC governorship nomination form for a second-term bid in May. He subsequently emerged as the party’s consensus candidate after the internal selection process.
The governor has also been actively engaging traditional and political stakeholders ahead of the election, including visits to traditional institutions following his endorsement by the party.
That means the selection of Augie comes as the APC moves from establishing its governorship candidate to consolidating the wider ticket and political structure that will be presented to Kebbi voters.
What the Change Means for the 2027 Race
The replacement of a sitting deputy governor on a prospective governorship ticket is politically significant, even though the APC has stressed that the decision does not represent a quarrel between Governor Idris and Tafida.
For the ruling party, the immediate challenge will be to maintain cohesion among supporters of both political figures and prevent the change from becoming a source of internal division.
For the opposition, the development could provide an opportunity to scrutinise the APC’s choice of running mate and the circumstances surrounding the legal advice that triggered the change.
However, the APC has not publicly detailed the specific legal issue behind Tafida’s reported ineligibility. Until the party or relevant authorities provide further legal clarification, claims about the precise constitutional or statutory basis for the decision should be treated cautiously.
Where the 2027 Election Stands
The 2027 governorship election is no longer merely a distant political discussion.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has now set March 6, 2027 as the date for governorship and State House of Assembly elections nationwide, with Kebbi among the states scheduled to vote.
INEC has also indicated that political parties will operate within defined periods for primaries, candidate nominations and campaigns under the approved electoral timetable.
The APC’s confirmation of Idris and selection of Augie therefore gives voters a clearer picture of the party’s intended ticket well ahead of election day.
What Readers Should Watch Next
The next major developments will likely include:
- Further clarification of the legal advice cited by the APC over Tafida’s eligibility.
- Whether the party formally submits the new ticket through the required electoral process.
- How Tafida’s political future develops following his replacement on the 2027 ticket.
- Reactions from other APC stakeholders and opposition parties in Kebbi.
- The emergence or confirmation of competing governorship tickets ahead of the election.
For now, the key distinction is clear: Ibrahim Muhammad Augie has been announced as Governor Nasir Idris’ intended APC running mate for the 2027 governorship election, while Umar Abubakar Tafida remains listed by the Kebbi State Government as the incumbent deputy governor.
The development adds a new dimension to Kebbi’s 2027 political contest, with the APC now tasked with translating its latest ticket adjustment into a united campaign ahead of the March 2027 poll.
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