From Idris Khalid, Bauchi
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has instituted a suit at the Federal High Court in Bauchi, challenging the eligibility of Tijjani Aliyu Mohammed, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) deputy governorship candidate, to contest the 2027 Bauchi State governorship election.
The APM is questioning the legality of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) publication of Mohammed’s name as the PRP running mate, alleging that his name was not included in the party’s membership register submitted to the electoral commission before the deadline.
The party is also seeking judicial interpretation of relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and the 1999 Constitution, as amended, regarding the eligibility of the deputy governorship candidate.
Speaking with journalists in Bauchi yesterday, the APM’s legal adviser, Barr. Jidauna Tula, said the suit, marked FHC/BAU/CS/70/2026, was filed in the interest of justice and fairness.
He said the action seeks the enforcement of Sections 77(4), 77(5) and 77(6) of the Electoral Act 2026. The suit lists INEC as the first defendant, Tijjani Aliyu Mohammed as the second defendant and the PRP as the third defendant.
Tula explained that the APM approached the court following INEC’s publication of Mohammed’s name on October 10, 2026, as the PRP deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 Bauchi State governorship election.
According to him, the party wants the court to determine whether the publication complied with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the Constitution.
He said one of the questions submitted for determination was whether INEC lawfully published Mohammed’s name as the PRP running mate, considering the provisions of Sections 77(4), 77(5) and 77(6) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The APM also asked the court to determine whether Mohammed’s name could lawfully be published as the party’s deputy governorship candidate when, according to the plaintiff, his name was absent from the PRP membership register submitted to INEC on May 10, 2026.
The party further questioned Mohammed’s eligibility, alleging that he remained a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) when the PRP submitted its membership register to INEC.
Tula said the suit also challenges the PRP’s compliance with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026, which the plaintiff cited in relation to the submission of party membership registers ahead of primary elections.
He said the APM was asking the court to determine whether the publication of Mohammed’s name was lawful, given the alleged non-compliance with the relevant electoral provisions and the timing of the party’s membership register submission and primary election.
The plaintiff is seeking declarations that INEC’s publication of Mohammed’s name as the PRP deputy governorship candidate was unlawful, having regard to the combined provisions of Sections 177(c) and 187(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and Sections 77(4), 77(5) and 77(6) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The APM is also asking the court to declare that Mohammed’s name was unlawfully published because, according to the party, it was not contained in the PRP membership register submitted to INEC.
In addition, the party wants the court to determine whether his alleged continued membership of the APC at the time the PRP submitted its register affected the legality of his emergence as the party’s deputy governorship candidate.
The APM is further seeking a declaration that the alleged breaches of the Electoral Act render the publication of Mohammed’s name unlawful, null and void, and without legal effect.
According to Tula, the party’s counsel, Luka Musa Haruna, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has also asked the court to issue a mandatory order directing INEC to remove Mohammed’s name from its final list of candidates for the 2027 Bauchi State governorship election.
The plaintiff’s legal argument relies, among other provisions, on Section 187(2) of the Constitution, which extends relevant provisions concerning the qualification and disqualification of a governor to the office of deputy governor, and Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 concerning the submission of political parties’ membership registers to INEC ahead of primary elections.
The latest suit comes a week after the APM filed another legal action challenging the eligibility of the PRP governorship candidate, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, to contest the 2027 Bauchi State governorship election.
