APM Sues INEC and PRP Candidate Shehu Buba Over Alleged Electoral Act Breach in Bauchi Governorship Race
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM), has filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Bauchi, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Shehu Buba Umar of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and his running mate over alleged breach of the Electoral Act.
Briefing newsmen after filing the suit on Friday, October 23, 2026, the Legal Adviser of APM, Jidauna Tula, said the suit is challenging the eligibility of Senator Shehu Buba as PRP governorship candidate for Bauchi State.
Tula explained that the APC conducted its Governorship Primary Election in Bauchi on May 22, 2026, where Senator Shehu Buba Umar lost and subsequently withdrew from the race.
He said Buba then defected to the PRP, which hurriedly conducted a fresh governorship Primary on May 26, 2026 and produced him as its candidate.
According to Tula, this action violated Section 82 of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended (Electoral Act 2026).
He cited that Section 82(1) and (2) of the Act required every political party to give INEC at least 21 days notice before conducting any convention, congress, conference or primary for nomination of candidates, stating the date, time, venue and names of committee members.
He added that Section 82(6) provided that failure to give such notice rendered the primary, convention or congress invalid.
“By law, PRP ought to have notified INEC on or before May 5, 2026 for a primary slated for May 26, 2026, which APM alleges it failed to do.
“To our surprise, on October 10, 2026, INEC published his name as the Governorship candidate of the PRP. That is the final list published by INEC for the 2027 election. That is why we sued INEC and Shehu Buba,” Tula said.
He further alleged that the deputy governorship candidate also defected to PRP after INEC deadline had elapsed.
The case has been filed and hearing is yet to commence.
