CONCHO, Okla. (AP) — The governor of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes is appealing a ruling by a Bureau of Indian Affairs official that could result in her removal from office.

Gov. Janice Boswell is embroiled in a dispute with Lt. Gov. Leslie Harjo over who is the rightful governor of the Concho-based tribes. Harjo maintains a tribal court has suspended Boswell, making Harjo the governor. The two are running what appear to be separate tribal operations with different judges.

Betty Tippeconnie, the superintendent of the BIA office in El Reno, said in a letter last month that the BIA would recognize the judges supported by Harjo. Boswell had 30 days to file an appeal of that decision and she tells The Associated Press she did so Thursday.