Bauchi court allows PRP to hold governorship primary election

The Bauchi State High Court No. 2 has lifted a temporary order that stopped the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) from holding its governorship primary election in Bauchi State. This order was first given on May 25, 2026. The decision came during the case known as Suit No. BA/181/2026, which was filed by Barr. Idrees Safiyanu Gambo against the PRP, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Justice Kunaza N. Hamidu ruled to shorten the response time for all parties involved and canceled the earlier ex-parte order. He instructed everyone in the case to reply to the documents served on them within two days.

In his ruling, Justice Hamidu stated: “That an order is hereby made for the abridgment of time within which the parties herein may respond to all processes served on them in this suit to wit, within two (2) days from receipt of service of any or all process(s) concerned in this suit.” The judge explained that after reviewing the ex-parte motion, the supporting affidavit, and the written address from May 28, 2026, the court found enough reasons to grant the request.

The ruling clearly stated: “That the ex-parte order of this Honourable Court made on the 25th May, 2026 is hereby set aside.” After the ruling, Lawyers for the Cause of Bauchi praised Justice Hamidu. They called it a timely and proper judicial action. The group’s Publicity Secretary, Nasir H. Bala, Esq., told journalists that lifting the earlier order showed that the court respected due process and upheld the rule of law.

The lawyers also pointed out that records from the court registry showed that the PRP governorship primary election took place on May 25, 2026, before the restraining order was delivered to the involved parties. They said most parties got the order on May 26, a day after the primary election occurred. The case has been postponed until June 4, 2026, for a hearing on the motion.