Yobe IPAC crisis deepens as sacked chairman, secretary reject impeachment
The ongoing struggle for control of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Yobe State has escalated as embattled Chairman Umar Adamu Jajere and Secretary-General Mustapha Gado publicly challenged attempts to remove them from their positions.
In a joint statement released to the media on Saturday, Jajere and Gado asserted that the reported impeachment holds no legal validity and affirmed their commitment to continue leading the council. Their comments come amid rising internal conflicts within the organization, coinciding with increasing political activities in anticipation of the 2027 general elections.
The officials contended that the assembly in which the decision to oust them was made failed to meet the necessary quorum. They stated that both the State Executive Council and the State Assembly lacked the required number of members in attendance, as specified by Sections 8(ii) and 8(iv) of the council’s Code.
They also claimed that individuals who participated in the meeting and cast votes were not properly accredited. According to Jajere and Gado, these participants lacked written nominations from their respective state party chairmen, a stipulation outlined in Sections 4.2(a) and 15 of the Code.
The two officials questioned the legitimacy of the meeting itself, citing the absence of a written request signed by two-thirds of the members and noting that Jajere was not given the seven days’ notice mandated by Section 8(vii).
Furthermore, they criticized the disciplinary procedures, stating that no petitions had been submitted to the Disciplinary Committee or the Political Parties Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee prior to the announcement of their removal.
Jajere and Gado emphasized that any individual claiming to hold office in the Yobe IPAC as a result of this process does not have lawful authority. They warned that those who participated in the contested meeting could face disciplinary actions, including suspension, for violating council regulations.
The officials appealed to the Yobe State Government, the Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize them as the legitimate leadership of the council. They also indicated that the national headquarters of IPAC had been notified of the situation, in accordance with Section 4.3 of the Code.
As of the time of this report, the faction that attempted to remove Jajere and Gado had not issued a response.
