Shehu Buba’s Legal Team Rejects Daily Trust Report on Bauchi 2027 Guber Candidacy
By idris Ayinde
The legal team of Senator Shehu Buba Umar has dismissed a report by Daily Trust suggesting that his candidacy for the 2027 Bauchi State governorship election could be affected by the recent Supreme Court judgment in the case of INEC v. Zenith Labour Party.
This is contained in a statement signed by the coordinator of the senator’s legal team, Jibrin S. Jibrin in Bauchi on Wednesday.
The lawyers described the newspaper’s position as erroneous, misplaced and misconceived.
The statement followed the Supreme Court’s decision in the case, reportedly delivered on Thursday, September 24, 2026, under suit number SC/CV/495/2026.
Daily Trust had reported that candidates who emerged late or presented themselves for elections on different political platforms could be affected by the judgment, mentioning Shehu Buba alongside other political figures.
However, the legal team maintained that the senator did not fall into the category of candidates whose emergence could be affected by the development.
According to the statement, Shehu Buba joined the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) early enough to satisfy the requirements of Section 77 of the Electoral Act and did not participate in the governorship primaries of his former party, having left it before the exercise.
The lawyers argued that the circumstances surrounding the senator’s emergence as the PRP governorship candidate in Bauchi State were different from those addressed in the Supreme Court case.
They further maintained that the judgment did not directly concern or adversely affect Shehu Buba or the PRP, noting that neither the senator nor his party was a party to the proceedings.
The legal team also cited Sections 285(9) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and Sections 29(6), 33 and 88(3) of the Electoral Act in arguing that questions concerning the disqualification of candidates fall within the jurisdiction of a competent court, rather than being determined solely by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The statement added that neither Shehu Buba nor the PRP was involved in any pending court action concerning his nomination, and the team said it did not reasonably anticipate litigation on the issue.
It also disclosed that the lawyers were making efforts to obtain a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment to guide their interpretation of the decision and determine any necessary further action.
Jibrin cautioned lawyers, political actors and public commentators against drawing definitive conclusions about court judgments without first studying the relevant decisions.
The legal team expressed appreciation to supporters of the senator’s governorship ambition for their concern and solidarity, expressing confidence in the PRP’s 2027 governorship project in Bauchi State.
The statement concluded with an expression of optimism about the party’s electoral ambition, attributing its anticipated success to divine grace.
