Shehu Buba defection rocks APC as Bauchi South senator reportedly joins PRP after withdrawing from governorship race over alleged irregularities

The senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Shehu Buba, has reportedly defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Bauchi State on Sunday, 24 May 2026, following his withdrawal from the APC governorship primary over alleged irregularities and constitutional breaches.

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The Shehu Buba defection comes days after the lawmaker announced his exit from the APC governorship race, accusing party officials of manipulating the primary process and allegedly announcing predetermined results without conducting actual voting.

In a strongly worded statement issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Sabo Muhammad, the senator alleged that some party officials had compromised the integrity of the exercise, claiming they were “practically hijacked” and operated from undisclosed locations while releasing what he described as pre-determined outcomes.

Photographs later circulated online showing Senator Shehu Buba holding a registration certificate of the Peoples Redemption Party, further fuelling reports of his political realignment and intensifying speculation around the Shehu Buba defection.

Supporters of the senator have since rallied behind him, with many declaring their readiness to follow him to any political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections. At a solidarity gathering held at Pali Suite in Bauchi, supporters urged him to formally abandon the APC and pursue his governorship ambition under the PRP platform.

Chairman of the Mujaddadi Kafar Kafarmu Group, Haruna Modibbo, described Senator Buba as the most capable aspirant in the state, citing his record in youth empowerment, education support, healthcare initiatives and job creation since entering the Senate.

Modibbo also alleged that elements within the APC structure in Bauchi were working against the senator’s ambition, insisting that Buba remained the most credible candidate to govern the state in 2027.

The group pledged to intensify grassroots mobilisation across Bauchi State in support of the senator, while calling on women and youths to prioritise competence and leadership qualities over party affiliation.

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As political tensions continue to rise within the APC in Bauchi, the Shehu Buba defection has added fresh uncertainty to the party’s internal dynamics ahead of the next election cycle.