PRP now free to conduct governorship primary in Bauchi, court rules

The Bauchi State High Court No. 2 has set aside an interim injunction it earlier granted restraining the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) from conducting its governorship primary election or congress in Bauchi State. The order, initially issued on May 25, 2026, was vacated during proceedings in Suit No. BA/181/2026, filed by Barr. Idrees Safiyanu Gambo against the PRP, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In his ruling, Justice Kunaza N. Hamidu granted an application for the abridgment of time and subsequently set aside the ex-parte order. The court ordered all parties in the suit to respond to processes served on them within two days of receipt. Justice Hamidu ruled: “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 considering the motion ex-parte, the supporting affidavit, and the written address dated May 28, 2026, the court found sufficient grounds to grant the application. The ruling specifically stated: “That the ex-parte order of this Honourable Court made on the 25th May, 2026 is hereby set aside.” Reacting to the ruling, Lawyers for the Cause of Bauchi commended Justice Hamidu for what they described as a timely and appropriate judicial intervention. Speaking with journalists, the group’s Publicity Secretary, Nasir H. Bala, Esq., said the decision to vacate the earlier order demonstrated judicial responsibility, adherence to due process, and a commitment to the rule of law. The lawyers noted that findings obtained from the court registry indicated that the PRP governorship primary election had already been conducted on May 25, 2026, before the restraining order was effectively served on the parties involved. According to the group, most parties received service of the order on May 26, a day after the primary election had taken place. The matter has been adjourned until June 4, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice.