Supreme Court judgment has nothing to do with Buba’s PRP gubernatorial candidature – Legal team clarifies
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
The Legal representatives of Senator Shehu Buba Umar, the Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2027 general election in Bauchi State, has declared that the recent Supreme Court judgment has not in any way legally affected the candidature of the Senator.
The declaration was made by Barrister
Jibrin S. Jibrin in a statement he signed and issued to Journalists in Bauchi on Wednesday, titled: “Addressing Daily Trust and Others’ folly on Senator Shehu Buba Umar 2027 PRP Governorship Candidate in Bauchi State: Supreme Court’s Decision in INEC V. Zenith Labour Party in Focus.”
He wrote, ”In keeping with our professional responsibility along with our calling as Ministers in the Temple of Justice, we deem it necessary to for the umpteenth time set the records straight and clear the folly in Daily Trust’s latest reportage regarding the decision of the Supreme Court in INEC v. ZENITH LABOUR PARTY delivered on Thursday 24th September 2026 with SC/CV/495/2026 being the suit number.”
According to him, The fact that some lawyers, political actors, public commentators and so on seem to share the position published by Daily Trust in its Wednesday 30th September 2026’s edition makes it more imperative and dutiful that the true position is proffered in this regard for thre benefit of all.”
Jibirin Jibrin added, “To start with, the position conveyed in Daily Trust’s publication in reference is to the effect that it is feared that Senator Shehu Buba is one of the candidates who may be affected by the developments resulting from the Supreme Court’s verdict in reference.*
The paper premised its position on the issue thus: “there are fears the candidates who emerged late or after presenting themselves for elections on other platforms like ex-IGP Mohammed Adamu, Sheikh Isa Pantami, Kingsley Chinda, Shehu Buba, Mohammed Nami may be affected.”
”But setting the records straight, and taking into account the relevant provisions of the extant Electoral Act and other applicable laws on the matter, we thought it dutiful to present the correct legal position by saying that the newspaper’s view quoted above is erroneous, misplaced and misconceived. Before doing that, however, the fact needs to be clarified that to all intents and purposes Senator Shehu Buba Umar is not and could not have been one of the candidates whose emergence as the PRP Governorship Candidate in Bauchi State occurred late nor did it happen after he presented himself for election on another platform,” he explained.”
According to him, “Available record has it that not only did Shehu Buba joined PRP early enough to satisfy the requirements of Section 77 of the Electoral Act, he also did not participate in the governorship primaries of his former party whose ranks he has left before the conduct of its primaries.”
Now turning to other material issues, he stated,”We hereby state as follows: That in consonance with the famous legal maxim of expressio unius est exclusio alterius in the context of the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case INEC v. ZLP in issue relating to, among others, Section 77 (5), (6) and (7) of the Electoral Act as decided by the Supreme Court, the decision does not concern nor adversely affect Senator Shehu Buba or PRP as he is not a party to the matter nor hence same does not affect him in all material particular in the light of the facts and the law relating to his candidature.”
He further explained,”By a combined reading as well as understanding of Sections 285(9) of the 1999 Constitution FRN (As Amended), 29(6), 33 and 88(3) of the Electoral Act (Supra), only a Court of competent jurisdiction and not INEC determines questions bordering on disqualification of candidates.”
The legal team lead added, “The fact is further worthy of clarification that as the PRP Governorship Candidate in Bauchi State, Senator Shehu Buba Umar and his party, the PRP are not subject of any pending action in Court touching on his nomination nor do they reasonably anticipate one in so far as it is on this issue.
According to him, “It is also necessary to point out that like virtually all other serious legal practitioners, political actors and interested parties, Senator Shehu Buba’s legal team is making efforts to obtain a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court’s judgment in reference which it shall use for guidance and further action in this regard if necessary.”
Jibirin Jibrin added, “The point highlighted in paragraph (iv) above is particularly important and it is meant to caution armchair analysts or fast-to-do commentators who are fond of hastily and carelessly going to town drawing conclusions and sounding conclusive on Court’s judgments which they have not studied themselves.”
He concluded, “Finally, we convey Senator Shehu Buba’s appreciation for the outpour of concern, solidarity and growing support to his governorship ambition from far and near. And as with every dream ordained by the Almighty, the PRP Governorship project come 2027 in Bauchi State shall be realized by His grace. In all, we find motivation in the Latin expression that says:”Cuilibet in arte sua perito est credendum” i.e. “Everyone who is skilled in his own art is to be believed.”
