By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State Chapter of the Allied Peoples Movement, (APM), on Monday, filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Bauchi challenging the eligibility of Senator Shehu Buba Umar, as the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), for the 2027 general elections.
The case was filed at the court, seeking the court to investigate the qualification of the PRP candidate in line with the Electoral Act as amended as well as other relevant guidelines for the conduct of the 2026 party primaries leading to the 2027 general elections.
According to the suit filed by the APM, Senator Shehu Buba Umar had earlier contested Primary Election under the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), but could not make it.
The APM claimed that having failed to meet the requirements for the process according to the APC, he left the party, but later, he emerged as a candidate under the PRP and his name was published by INEC.
The case has just been filed and hearing was yet to commence as no date has been while court processes are to be served to the relevant parties.
Briefing newsmen shortly after filing the case, the APM State Legal Adviser, Barrister Jidauna Tula, said the party is seeking justice and wants the court to interpret the electoral law regarding the candidacy of Senator Shehu Buba.
According to him, “Between the date Sen Shehu Buba Umar contested APC gubernatorial primary, lost and joined the PRP and afterwards emerged as its gubernatorial candidate was less than the days required by law for membership of a political party.”
He said, “On the 10th of October, 2026, INEC published the final list of gubernatorial candidates for the 2027 general elections in Bauchi State and the name of Sen Shehu Buba Umar appeared on the list. We have observed that he did not Meet the requirements of the Electoral Act of 21 days of party membership before being eligible for party primaries.”
He added that,”We are aware that in May, he contested the APC gubernatorial primary election, but having lost out in the contest, he ran to the PRP and picked up the party gubernatorial ticket on the 25th of the same month of May, it was just a 4-day interval, he had not met the Electoral Act requirements of registration of membership of the PRP.”
“We are therefore challenging his inclusion in the list of gubernatorial candidates in Bauchi State in line with the judgement of the Supreme Court that nobody can challenge the Electoral Act requirements as well as the electoral guidelines released by INEC for the purposes of the 2027 general elections,” he added.
Jidauna Tula said that,”We want the Court to determine his status as a gubernatorial candidate of the PRP in the 2027 general elections. This is a pre-election matter which has significant impact on the outcome of the process itself. Even if he wins the election but loses the pre-election matter, it is as good as losing the main election. Such cases are not time bound. It can go up to the Supreme Court aside the election petition.”
All efforts to get reactions from the PRP and the candidate proved abortive as the relevant officials contacted including the Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Senator, Comrade Sabo Muhammad, did not respond.
Meanwhile, the legal team of Sen Shehu Buba Umar, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP in the 2027 general elections, has reaffirmed that there is no any encumbrance against the candidature stressing that under the Electoral Act and all relevant laws, he remains the party’s candidate.
In what he titled, “Our response”, he stated that, “As the legal team of Senator Shehu Buba Umar PRP Governorship Candidate in Bauchi State and the party, our attention has been drawn to a press briefing by Jidauna Tula Esq, APM’s Legal Adviser in Bauchi State on the suit filed by his party at the Federal High Court in Bauchi challenging his nomination as PRP Candidate for the governorship election scheduled for February 2027.”
The Legal Team Coordinator added, “As firm believers in Almighty and His awesome authority, we look forward and are hopeful for the realization of His will that will see Shehu Buba emerge victorious in the election.The massive support for his candidature which is increasing on daily basis is nobody’s doing but Allah (SWT).”
According to him,”He has seen us come this far and by His grace, He will guide us to a resounding victory at the polls.
