Aspirant Sues PRP, Shehu Buba, INEC Over Bauchi Gov’ship Primary

The People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in Bauchi State is facing fresh internal crisis following allegations of irregularities in its governorship screening process for the 2027 election.

An aggrieved governorship aspirant, Idrees Safiyanu Garba, accused party officials of manipulating the process in favour of Senator Shehu Buba Umar, who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) recently.

Idrees, while speaking with journalists yesterday in Bauchi, alleged that despite fulfilling all requirements for participation, concerns over transparency and fairness were ignored by the party leadership.

He also questioned the circumstances surrounding Buba’s emergence as the party’s governorship candidate shortly after his defection from the APC.

According to him, there were indications that the Senator maintained links with the APC even after publicly announcing his resignation from the ruling party.

The aspirant further alleged that Shehu Buba attended APC meetings after his reported defection to the PRP, insisting that the development raised constitutional and procedural concerns that should be clarified by the party leadership.

“I began to notice signs that some people were deliberately working against my aspiration,” he alleged.

Idris vowed to pursue the matter through legal and constitutional means, insisting that justice and internal democracy must prevail within the party.

The PRP is yet to issue an official statement on the allegations.

Meanwhile, Idris Safiyanu Gambo approached Bauchi State High Court No. 2 to challenge both the party and Senator Shehu Buba Umar over the governorship primary process.

In suit number BA/181/2026, filed by Idrees Safiyanu Gambo against the People’s Redemption Party, Shehu Buba Umar, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the court granted an interim injunction restraining the PRP from conducting any gubernatorial primary election or congress in Bauchi State pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

In an interim judgment, Justice Kunaza N. Hamidu stated that the court had considered the motion ex-parte, supporting affidavit, annexures, and written address dated May 24, 2026, before granting the application.

The court also restrained INEC, its agents, or anyone acting on its behalf from supervising or participating in the governorship primary process pending the determination of the motion on notice.

The matter was adjourned to June 8, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.

The development comes amid an internal crisis within the PRP following the defection of Senator Shehu Buba Umar to the party and his emergence as its governorship candidate for the 2027 Bauchi State election.

Meanwhile, the Deputy National Vice Chairman (North) of the PRP, Haruna Buhari, who supervised the primary election, said 766 delegates drawn from the 20 local government areas of Bauchi State participated in the exercise.

Buhari explained that the party’s constitution permits affirmation where only one aspirant is cleared to contest for a position.