By Sule Aliyu, Bauchi
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Bauchi, challenging the eligibility of Senator Shehu Buba Umar to contest the 2027 Bauchi State governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
The APM’s legal adviser, Barrister Jidauna Tula, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Bauchi, saying the suit, marked FHC/BAU/CS/68/2026, was filed to seek judicial interpretation of relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 concerning the senator’s nomination.
According to Tula, the party is seeking the enforcement of Sections 77(4), 77(5) and 77(6) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The suit lists the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PRP and Senator Shehu Buba as defendants.
Tula alleged that Senator Buba had earlier participated in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election but subsequently emerged as the PRP’s governorship candidate, whose name was later published by INEC.
In its originating summons, the APM asked the court to determine whether Senator Buba’s participation in the PRP governorship primary election and his subsequent emergence as the party’s candidate complied with the Electoral Act.
The party also asked the court to determine whether the absence of the senator’s name from the PRP membership register submitted to INEC within the statutory period affected his eligibility to participate in the party’s primary election.
Other questions raised by the APM concern whether the PRP complied with the statutory requirements for submitting its membership register before conducting its governorship primary election on May 25, 2026.
The party further questioned whether the PRP could rely on any membership register other than the one submitted to INEC within the legally prescribed period to establish Senator Buba’s eligibility.
The APM is seeking a declaration that INEC’s publication of Senator Buba’s name as the PRP governorship candidate on October 10, 2026, was unlawful, null and void if the court finds that his nomination contravened the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
It also wants the court to direct INEC to remove the senator’s name from the final list of candidates for the 2027 Bauchi State governorship election.
Explaining the legal basis of the suit, Tula said Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC at least 21 days before their primary elections, congresses or conventions.
He also cited Section 77(8), which he said restricts participation in party primaries to members whose names appear on the applicable membership register, as well as Section 77(6), which addresses the use of membership registers submitted to the electoral commission.
Tula alleged that the PRP was required to submit its membership register on or before May 10, 2026, and that Senator Buba’s name was absent from the register submitted within the statutory period.
He further alleged that the senator remained a member of the APC as of May 19, 2026, after the PRP had submitted its register, but subsequently participated in the PRP primary election on May 25, 2026.
The APM argued that these circumstances raised questions about the legality of the senator’s participation in the primary election and his emergence as the party’s governorship candidate.
The party maintained that INEC’s publication of his name was based on a nomination it considers inconsistent with the Electoral Act.
Attempts to obtain comments from Senator Buba and the PRP were unsuccessful as of press time. The report also stated that no hearing date had been fixed.
Shehu Buba’s Legal Team Responds
Meanwhile, the legal team of Senator Shehu Buba Umar has maintained that there is no legal impediment to his candidacy, insisting that his emergence as the PRP governorship candidate complied with the applicable laws.
In a statement titled “Our Response,” the team’s coordinator, Jibrin S. Jibrin, Esq., said the legal team had taken note of the APM’s press briefing concerning the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Bauchi.
Jibrin, a notary public and Barden Galambi, Danmalikin Miri, said Senator Buba and the PRP had not been formally served with the court processes and would therefore refrain from discussing the substantive issues until they received the relevant documents.
He, however, maintained that the senator’s emergence as the PRP governorship candidate followed an internal party process that was properly conducted in accordance with the applicable laws.
According to him, the legal team had previously issued a comprehensive statement on the matter, which was published by mainstream and online media outlets.
Jibrin further insisted that Senator Buba’s candidacy, alongside those of other PRP candidates in Bauchi State, remained intact and in compliance with the law.
He said the legal team would await further developments in the case while expressing appreciation for the support and goodwill extended to the senator.
The legal team coordinator also expressed confidence in the senator’s political prospects, attributing the support for his candidacy to what he described as the will of Almighty Allah.
The dispute now places the legality of Senator Buba’s nomination before the court. Its eventual determination will depend on the legal arguments, evidence and applicable provisions considered during the proceedings.
Further developments will be reported as the case progresses.
