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From Paul Orude, Bauchi
Senator Shehu Buba has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship race in Bauchi State ahead of tomorrow’s primary election, citing alleged breaches by the party.
The major APC contenders are former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, a former Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPCL Upstream Investment Services, Bala Wunti, and former Bauchi State Governor Muhammad Abubakar.
Buba made the announcement to withdraw from the contest a day before the APC governorship primaries in a press statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Comrade Mohammed Sabo, and made available to journalists in Bauchi on Wednesday.
According to the statement, he withdrew from the Bauchi State governorship race under protest following alleged breaches of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, the Electoral Act 2026, the APC Constitution 2022, as amended, and party guidelines.
“It will be recalled that before 19th April 2026, which was the day Senator Shehu declared his acceptance of the clamour and calls from the teeming and dependable people of Bauchi State, including but not limited to his constituents, regarding his aspiration for the office of Governor of Bauchi State, the party had already been enmeshed in a serious leadership crisis concerning key offices in the State Executive Committee such as the State Secretary and Organising Secretary,” the statement read in part.
It added that for three years, the senator had provided both moral and financial support to the party in almost all its activities in Bauchi State, but regretted that he was being treated as “a second-class citizen in the party he nurtured and served with passion.”
The senator, according to the statement, demanded to know the identities of the electoral officials assigned to Bauchi State to conduct the primaries scheduled for Thursday (tomorrow), the venues for the governorship primaries at polling units and wards, as well as measures to enable agents to prepare adequately.
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The governorship aspirant further sought clarification on the locations of collation centres, the officials assigned to them, and the arrangements for the supply and receipt of electoral materials, including the timing of distribution.
“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 affecting all aspirants except the pre-arranged winners of the elections,” the statement added.
“Literally speaking, no election is taking place, and no electoral official has been seen anywhere in Bauchi State for the conduct of the 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 the 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, the Electoral Act 2026, the 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 it but are 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 light of the above, Senator Shehu Buba urges his supporters, sympathisers and well-wishers to remain calm and resolute in the face of this current and deliberately orchestrated crisis while leaving our fate to Almighty Allah to determine.
“On this note, Senator Shehu Buba Umar wishes to use this medium to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for providing purposeful leadership to the party and the country and pledges to work for his victory in the forthcoming general elections.”
