Bauchi guber: APM sues INEC, PRP, Senator Shehu Buba

From Muhammad Ahmadu  saka, in Bauchi

The Allied Peoples Movement, APM, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court Bauchi challenging the eligibility of Senator Shehu Buba Umar of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, to contest the 2027 gubernatorial election as a Governorship candidate under the PRP.

Legal adviser to the APM, Barrister Jidauna Tula told reporters in Bauchi that the suit number FHC/BAU/CS/68/2026 was filed because the party wants the court, in the interest of Justice and fairness, to interpret the electoral law regarding the candidacy of Senator Shehu Buba as PRP candidate in the 2027 general election.

Tula said the suit was filed seeking the enforcement of section 77 (4), 77(5) and 77((6) of the electoral act 2026.

The Legal Adviser said the case was filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Peoples Redemption Party PRP and Senator Shehu Buba, the gubernatorial candidate.

He said, Senator Shehu Buba Umar had earlier contested Primary Election under the All Progressives Congress, APC, and failed to meet the requirements of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, but later emerged as a candidate under the PRP and his name was published by INEC.

The originating summon filed by the APM wants the court to determine whether the emergence of Shehu Buba as the gubernatorial candidate of the PRP for the 2027 Bauchi State Governorship Election is lawful, having regard to the provisions of Sections 77(4), 77(5) and 77(6) of the Electoral Act 2026?

The suit seeks determination as to whether “Pursuant to Section 77(5) of the Electoral Act 2026, of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Buba was eligible to be voted for in the 3rd Defendant’s governorship primary election, given that his name did not appear on the 3rd Defendant’s membership register submitted to the 1st Defendant within the statutory period?”

“Weather the 2nd Defendant’s continued membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as at the date the 3rd Defendant submitted its membership register to the 1st Defendant, and the absence of his name from that register,

are material to determining whether he was lawfully entitled to participate in the 3rd Defendant’s governorship

primary election and emerge as its candidate?”

“Weather the 3rd Defendant complied with the provisions of Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act, 2026 when it submitted

her register of members on or before the 10th of May, 2026, and conducted her governorship primary election on the

25th of May, 2026?”

“Whether having regard to Section 77(6) of the Electoral Act 2026, the 3rd Defendant could lawfully rely on any

membership register other than the one submitted to the 1st Defendant within the statutory period to establish the 2nd

Defendant’s eligibility to participate in its governorship primary election?”

“Whether INEC , having received the PRP

Defendant’s membership register within the statutory period, can lawfully retain the Shehu Bubas old name on the

final list of candidates for the 2027 Governorship Election.”

“If this Honourable Court determines that his participation in the 3rd Defendant’s primary election and purported nomination contravene the Electoral Act 2026?

APM asked the court to declare that the publication by the INEC , on

the 10th of October 2026, including the name of Shehu Buba as the gubernatorial candidate of the PRP for the 2027 Bauchi State Governorship Election

is unlawful, null and void having regard to the provisions

of Sections 77(4), 77(5) and 77(6) of the Electoral Act 2026?.

“by virtue of Section 77(4), (5) of the

Electoral Act 2026, eligibility to vote or be voted for at the PRP’s governorship primary election held on

25th of May, 2026 is governed by the membership register

submitted to the INEC within the statutory period,

of not later than 21 days before the date fixed for the

primaries and Shehu Buba’s name was absent

from the PRP’s membership register submitted

to the INEC within the statutory period, of not later

than 21 days before the date fixed for its governorship

primary election held on 25th of May, 2026.”

“By virtue of section 77(4)and (8)of the electoral act 2026 , Shehu Buba was not elegible to be voted for at the PRPs governorship primary election which was conducted on 25th May ,2026, by virtue of section 77(6) of the electoral act 2026 PRP cannot rely on any other membership register to establish Shehu Buba’s eligibility to participate in its governorship Primary election,where registered submitted to INEC within the statutory period doesn’t contain his name, for that Shehu Bubas Participation and emergence as flagbearer of PRP governorship primary election conducted on 25th May 2026, contravened section 77(4),(5),(6),and (7) of the Electoral act 2026. for that Shehu Bubas purported nomination as the governorship candidate of PRP for Bauchi State in the 2027 general elections is unlawful, null and void,and of no legal effect whatsoever “

The Party asked the court to direct INEC to forthwith remove the name of Shehu Buba from its final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship election in Bauchi State published on 10th October,2026.

Briefing newsmen on the grounds upon which the summon was brought to court, the legal adviser Tula explained that

Section 77 (4). of the electoral act 2026, prescribed 21 days period before the date fixed for Party Primary election, Congress and convention, within. Which a Political Party must makes its membership register available to INEC,

Section 77 (8) Provides that only members whose names are contained in the applicable register are eligible to vote and be voted for in Party Primaries Congress and conventions.

Section 77(6) Prohibits a Political Party from using for its primary election Congress or convention a different membership register from the one submitted to the INEC, and PRP was required to submit it’s membership register on or before 10th May, 2026 and the name of Shehu Buba was absent at the date of submission, because Shehu Buba remained a member of the APC as at 19th May 2026, after PRP submitted it’s register and this fact is relevant in determining his status and eligibility to participate in PRP primary election conducted on 25th May, 2026.

He argued that Shehu Buba participated and emerged governorship candidate of PRP on the 25 May, 2026 for the 2027 governorship election.

This, he said, is not withstanding the alleged absence of his name from the relevant membership register and INEC inclusion and retention of Shehu Buba’s name on the final list of governorship candidate is founded on a nomination made in contravention of the electoral act 2026.