BREAKING: Bauchi Guber Aspirant, Senator Shehu Buba, Withdraws From Governorship Primaries
Senator Shehu Buba has announced his withdrawal from the Bauchi State governorship primary election under the APC ahead of the election scheduled for Thursday, 21 May, 2026.
In a statement issued by Comrade Sabo Muhammad, his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, the Senator said he took this step to show his disagreement with the state party affairs, especially what he called violation of the Nigerian 1999 constitution, the 2026 elections, APC constitution 2022, and party principles.
He said; “It will be recalled that before 19th April, 2026 which was the day Senator Shehu Buba Umar declared his acceptance of the clamour and calls from the teeming and dependable People of Bauchi State including but not limited to his constituents, as it relates to the aspiration to the office of the Governor of Bauchi State, the party has been enmeshed in serious crisis of leadership in respect of key offices in the State executive committee such as State Secretary and Organising Secretary.
“To our utmost chagrin, however, a complete opposite of what the law says and the admonishment of Mr. President was the reflection of the conduct of the APC primaries commencing from the House of Representatives’ on the 16th May, 2026 to Senate’s on the 18th May,2026 and the House of Assembly which will take place today being 20th May ,2026 without exception also to the Governorship’s.
“The Party officials have practically been hijacked by persons who do not mean well for the party having allowed themselves to be caged at undisclosed hotels in Bauchi State without appearing at the elections’ venues but releasing predetermined results of the elections with persons who are not people’s choices as winners, as they do not have electoral value in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.
See Full Statement below:
PUBLIC NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF DISTINGUISHED SENATOR SHEHU BUBA UMAR FROM ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS’ GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN BAUCHI STATE UNDER PROTEST FOLLOWING BREACHES OF 1999 CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AS AMENDED, ELECTORAL ACT 2026, APC CONSTITUTION 2022 AS AMENDED AND PARTY GUIDELINES
This is to bring to the attention of the members of the public particularly citizens of Bauchi State that Distinguished Senator Shehu Buba Umar (representing Bauchi South) at the 10th Senate and an APC Governorship Aspirant in Bauchi State has withdrawn from the contest of the Governorship Primaries scheduled for 21st May,2026.
It will be recalled that before 19th April, 2026 which was the day Senator Shehu Buba Umar declared his acceptance of the clamour and calls from the teeming and dependable People of Bauchi State including but not limited to his constituents, as it relates to the aspiration to the office of the Governor of Bauchi State, the party has been enmeshed in serious crisis of leadership in respect of key offices in the State executive committee such as State Secretary and Organising Secretary.
This crisis that characterized the conduct of the ward, Local Government and State congresses in the State as unfortunately served as the starting point of the serious leadership issues the party is grappling with, coupled witth the attendant legal, political and other implications. Even after accepting to run for the Governorship of Bauchi State on the Platform of the party, Senator Shehu Buba with other concerned stakeholders have virtually exhausted all possible means of amicably resolving these issues to no avail.
It is thus pertinent to remember that in the first place, it is based on the founding ideals and objectives of the Party(APC) that Distinguished Senator Shehu Buba Umar contested and won and has been representing the good people of Bauchi South at the Senate. It is equally a fact that in a bid to strengthen the party faithfuls’ resolve as regards its core aims, goal and objectives, the party provide for same in its Constitution.
To further drive home the point, Article 7 (ix) and (x) respectively of the All Progressives Congress’ extant Constitution provides thus: the party shall…..
(ix) “.. promote and uphold the principles and practice of internal democracy at all levels of the party.”
(x) institutionalize, maintain and foster representative democracy, discipline and observance of the rule of law in the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
It is to be noted with pride that the leader of the party in order to ensure free, fair and credible primary elections, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in a build-up to the 2026 primary elections urged “party’s executives and other stakeholders to ensure fairness by providing all aspirants with a level playing field” adding also that “the party could not afford conduct capable of undermining internal cohesion or weakening Nigeria’s democratic process”. This, without more, is what strengthened our resolve to partake in the process knowing full well that the words of Mr. President cannot be disregarded or taken with levity.
To our utmost chagrin, however, a complete opposite of what the law says and the admonishment of Mr. President was the reflection of the conduct of the APC primaries commencing from the House of Representatives’ on the 16th May, 2026 to Senate’s on the 18th May,2026 and the House of Assembly which will take place today being 20th May ,2026 without exception also to the Governorship’s.
The Party officials have practically been hijacked by persons who do not mean well for the party having allowed themselves to be caged at undisclosed hotels in Bauchi State without appearing at the elections’ venues but releasing predetermined results of the elections with persons who are not people’s choices as winners, as they do not have electoral value in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.
It is a matter of public knowledge that for almost three years now, Senator Shehu Buba Umar is virtually the sole and fundamental pillar who has been providing moral and material support in almost all APC’s activities in Bauchi State but regrettably is being treated as a “second class citizen” in a party which he nurtures with abiding passion.
At this juncture, therefore, the following questions stare Senator Shehu Buba (being a frontline contender in the primary election in the primary elections scheduled for 21st May 2026), other aspirants concerned and party faithfuls in the face, begging for answers and are as follows:
1) Who are the electoral officials assigned to Bauchi State to conduct Governorship primaries on the 21st May,2026?
2) Where are the venues for the conduct of the primaries? Is it at all the Polling Units or wards and what are their names in order to enable us prepare adequately in terms of Agents for the monitoring of the elections activities.
3) Where are the collation Centres and who are the officers therefrom?
4) Where is the place for the supply and receipt of electoral materials and what is the time for the supplies? And many more.
It is also a matter of fact that from the commencement of APC primaries on the 16th till now, the above questions largely and strangely remain unanswered. This is a situation with all aspirants except the prearranged winners of the elections.
Literally speaking, no election takes place and no electoral official is seen anywhere in Bauchi State for the conduct of 2026 primary elections.
Against this background, therefore, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, after wide consultations with his supporters, stakeholders, political associates, family members and friends, has come to an irreversible conclusion of withdrawing from the All Progressives Congress Governorship primary election scheduled for 21st May ,2026 under protest following grave violations of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, Electoral Act,2026, All Progressives Congress Constitution 2022 as amended and APC Electoral Guidelines.
It is pertinent to note that democracy cannot flourish on the whims and caprices of a select few. Laws governing elections are made not for the fun of them but meant to be obeyed. Where this is not done, the only option left is to take the path of honour and abstain from the primaries.
In the light of the above, Senator Shehu Buba urges his supporters, sympathizers and well wishers to remain calm and more resolute in the face of this current and deliberately arranged crisis while leaving our fate to the Almighty Allah to determine.
On this note, Senator Shehu Buba Umar wants to use this medium to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for providing purposeful leadership to the party and the country and do pledge to work for his victory in the forthcoming general elections.
Thank you and God bless.
Comrade Sabo Muhammad
Special Adviser on Media and Communications to Distinguished Senator Shehu Buba Umar
20/05/2026
