By Rauf Oyewole
The Senator representing Bauchi South, Shehu Buba Umar has announced his withdrawal from the governorship primary election race under the All Progressives Congress (APC), claiming violation of the party and the 1999 constitution.
Buba, a frontline governorship aspirant withdrew from the party’s governorship race 24 hours to the election, citing alleged irregularities and lack of internal democracy in the conduct of the exercise.
The Senator in a statement by his media aide, Comrade Sabo Mohammed on Wednesday, said that the decision followed extensive consultations with supporters, political associates, family members and stakeholders after what it described as “grave violations” of the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act, the APC Constitution and the party’s electoral guidelines.
Buba alleged that the party in Bauchi State had been engulfed in a prolonged leadership crisis involving key positions within the state executive committee, including the offices of the State Secretary and Organising Secretary.
The statement noted that the crisis, which allegedly characterised the ward, local government and state congresses, had continued to affect the party’s internal processes despite efforts by concerned stakeholders to resolve the issues amicably.
It further accused some party officials of compromising the integrity of the ongoing primaries by allegedly operating from undisclosed hotels and announcing predetermined results without conducting actual elections at designated venues.
“The party officials have practically been hijacked by persons who do not mean well for the party,” the statement said, alleging that no real election had taken place in several instances since the commencement of the primaries on May 16.
The senator questioned the transparency of the governorship primary process, demanding clarification on the identities of electoral officials, designated voting venues, collation centres and procedures for the distribution of election materials.
He maintained that such information had not been made available to aspirants except to what he described as “prearranged winners.”
The statement also referenced provisions of the APC Constitution which promote internal democracy, discipline and adherence to the rule of law, arguing that the conduct of the primaries fell short of those ideals.
Buba further recalled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent call on party officials and stakeholders to ensure fairness and provide a level playing field for all aspirants ahead of the primaries. Despite his withdrawal from the race, the senator pledged continued support for President Tinubu and his administration, while urging his supporters and sympathisers to remain calm and steadfast.
He also expressed gratitude to the President for what he described as purposeful leadership of both the party and the country. “Democracy cannot flourish on the whims and caprices of a select few,” the statement added, insisting that electoral laws and party guidelines must be obeyed to safeguard the integrity of the democratic process.
