By Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Bauchi challenging the eligibility of Senator Shehu Buba Umar as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the upcoming 2027 Bauchi State gubernatorial election.
The suit, marked FHC/BAU/CS/68/2026, names the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Senator Shehu Buba Umar as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants, respectively.
Legal Grounds & Electoral Act Violations
Speaking to newsmen in Bauchi, the State Legal Adviser to the APM, Barrister Jidauna Tula, explained that the party filed the originating summons in the interest of justice to enforce strict adherence to Sections 77(4), 77(5), 77(6), and 77(8) of the Electoral Act 2026.
According to Tula, Senator Buba had previously participated in the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Following his exit from the APC, he emerged as the governorship flagbearer for the PRP, after which his name was published by INEC on October 10, 2026.
The APM contends that Senator Buba’s nomination violates statutory deadlines governing party membership registers:
- Missing Name on Official Register: Under Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026, political parties must submit their membership register to INEC at least 21 days before their scheduled primary elections. The PRP submitted its official membership register on or before May 10, 2026, for its primary election held on May 25, 2026.
- Continued APC Membership: The APM asserts that as of May 19, 2026—days after the PRP’s statutory submission deadline—Senator Buba remained a registered member of the APC. Consequently, his name was not included in the official PRP register submitted to INEC.
- Prohibition of Secondary Registers: Under Section 77(6) and 77(8), political parties are barred from relying on any register other than the one submitted within the statutory window to establish an aspirant’s eligibility to vote or be voted for.
Reliefs Sought by APM
Elaborating on the suit, Counsel to the APM, Barrister Benjamin Sati, stated that the court is being asked to determine whether Senator Buba’s emergence and INEC’s subsequent publication of his name are lawful.
The APM is asking the Federal High Court for the following declarations and orders:
- A Declaration that the publication of Senator Shehu Buba’s name by INEC on October 10, 2026, as the PRP governorship candidate is unlawful, null, void, and of no legal effect.
- A Declaration that Senator Buba was ineligible to contest in the PRP governorship primary election on May 25, 2026, due to the non-inclusion of his name in the PRP membership register submitted to INEC within the required 21-day window.
- An Order directing INEC to immediately strike out and remove Senator Shehu Buba’s name from its final list of candidates for the 2027 Bauchi State Governorship election.
Senator Buba’s Legal Team Reacts
In response to the suit, Jibrin S. Jibrin Esq., coordinator of Senator Shehu Buba’s legal team, reassured supporters that there is no cause for alarm. He stated that the senator’s ticket remains intact, valid, and unencumbered, expressing full confidence that the court will affirm the legitimacy of his candidate nomination.
As of the time of filing this report, formal court processes are being served on the defendants, and no official date has been set for the hearing.
