The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has approached the Federal High Court in Bauchi, seeking the disqualification of Senator Shehu Buba Umar as the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) governorship candidate for the 2027 Bauchi State election over alleged violations of the Electoral Act 2026.
In the suit marked FHC/BAU/CS/68/2026, the party joined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PRP and Senator Buba as defendants, challenging the legality of his participation in the PRP governorship primary held on May 25, 2026. The APM alleged that Buba had earlier participated in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary before subsequently emerging as the PRP candidate.
Speaking on the legal action, the APM’s Legal Adviser, Barrister Jidauna Tula, alleged that Buba’s name was absent from the PRP membership register submitted to INEC within the statutory period. He further claimed that the senator remained a member of the APC as of May 19, 2026, raising questions about his eligibility to participate in the PRP primary conducted six days later.
The party is relying on provisions of Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026 governing the submission of political party membership registers and eligibility to participate in party primaries. It is asking the court to determine whether the PRP complied with the statutory requirements and whether Buba could lawfully emerge as its governorship candidate under the circumstances.
Consequently, the APM is seeking an order nullifying Buba’s nomination and directing INEC to remove his name from the final list of candidates published on October 10, 2026. The party maintains that his inclusion on the list was unlawful because of the alleged irregularities surrounding his membership and nomination.
The allegations remain subject to judicial determination. As of the reports on the filing of the suit, neither Senator Buba nor the PRP had publicly responded to the claims.
Follow us on Instagram – www.instagram.com/legalnigeria
You must be logged in to post a comment.