PRP Governorship Aspirant Drags Senator Shehu Buba to Court Over Alleged Imposition

Idrees Safiyanu Gambo is challenging impostion of Sen Shehu Buba

From.paul Orude Bauchi

Barely hours after Senator Shehu Buba defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), a governorship aspirant of the party, Safiyanu Gambo, has approached the court challenging Senator Buba’s s emergence as the PRP governorship flag bearer.

Sen Shehu Umar Buba

In Suit No. BA/181/2026 filed on May 26, 2026, at the Bauchi State High Court, Idrees Safiyanu Gambo, a legal practiorioner and former Legal Asviser of PRP in the state, claims that he is the legitimate governorship candidate of the PRP,.

He maintained that Senator Buba, in collaboration with some national party officials, unlawfully supplanted him.

He further argued that Senator Buba remains, in principle, a member of the APC, insisting that his sudden emergence as PRP governorship candidate violates party procedures and electoral guidelines.

In the suit filed before Justice Kunamza Hamidu, the claimant is seeking an order restraining the PRP from conducting or recognising any governorship primary involving Senator Shehu Buba, pending the determination of the substantive matter.

Counsel to the aspirant, Barrister Alkassim Muhammad, also urged the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to supervise or recognise any PRP governorship primary in which Senator Buba is presented as a contestant.

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

The injunction comes just hours after the PRP reportedly declared Senator Shehu Buba as its governorship candidate for Bauchi State following a primary election held on Monday.

The exercise, supervised by INEC officials and attended by a large crowd of supporters and party stakeholders, affirmed the senator as the party’s flag bearer for the 2027 governorship election.

In his acceptance speech, Senator Buba pledged to extend his legislative achievements to the state level if elected, promising to improve the living conditions of the people.

However, Safiyanu Gambo expressed shock at the party’s decision, alleging that the senator, who reportedly left the APC over claims of injustice, has now joined the PRP only to perpetuate similar injustices against other aspirants.

He maintained that he duly purchased the PRP expression of interest and nomination forms worth N6 million, completed all requirements, and followed due process as stipulated by electoral laws.

He vowed to resist what he described as an imposition of Senator Buba and expressed confidence that the court would deliver justice.

The development marks a significant setback for Senator Shehu Buba, whose governorship ambition now faces legal uncertainty.

The PRP and Senator Buba have not yet issued an official response to the court action.