The invasion, which is now being probed by the State Security Service (SSS), is strongly suspected to be part of a plot to stop Umar from succeeding Suntai in the event that the governor did not survive.
At the centre of the SSS probe is a senator said to have instigated the attack.
Governor Suntai was widely rumoured to have died in the crash until the Presidency and the Ministry of Aviation, in separate statements, said he did not.
Umar, who was only sworn-in on October 5, was forced out of the Government House by thugs allegedly acting on the orders of the Senator.
Umar’s predecessor, Alhaji Sani Abubakar, was himself stopped from seeing the governor in the hospital by security agents.
Governor Suntai was transferred from Yola to the National Hospital, Abuja yesterday, wearing an oxygen mask. He was heavily bandaged.
A highly placed source who spoke on the Government House invasion, said: “Following the rumoured death of the governor, some thugs loyal to a serving senator invaded the Government House at about 11pm and unconstitutionally ejected the Deputy Governor from the place.
“They were shouting that under no condition would they allow the Deputy Governor to succeed Suntai who was presumed dead.
“Worried by the threat to his life, the Deputy Governor was ferried by security aides to the state office of the SSS in Jalingo.
“He slept at the SSS office overnight to avoid being killed. But a reinforcement of security around the Deputy Governor was effected on Friday to prevent further harassment against him.”
The source added: “We are investigating the alleged involvement of a serving senator in the illegal attack on the Deputy Governor.
“If the senator’s culpability is established, we will effect his arrest and trial.
“So far, it has been established that the senator has been at loggerheads with the governor. The suspect was opposed to how the immediate past Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sani Abubakar, was impeached by the Taraba State House of Assembly based on ‘cooked up’ allegations of gross misconduct levelled against him by the state lawmakers.”
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