A public dispute has emerged between Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress and Senator Shehu Buba Umar of the Peoples Redemption Party regarding remarks made about the senator’s finances. During a recent political gathering, Abubakar reportedly labeled the origins of Buba’s funding as suspicious, sparking significant online debate.
In response, Senator Buba, representing Bauchi South, submitted a formal petition to the Inspector-General of Police. Represented by his legal team, the senator labeled the comments as inflammatory and defamatory. The document alleges that the remarks were a calculated attempt to damage his public standing prior to the 2027 gubernatorial election. The petition requests that police question Abubakar, with the legal team warning of potential further legal action if no progress is made within a week.
Defending the APC candidate, legal secretary Muhammad AlKasim argued that Abubakar was simply exercising his constitutional right to free speech. AlKasim asserted that demanding transparency is within the scope of Nigerian law. Furthermore, the defense dismissed the libel claims by noting that Abubakar never explicitly identified Senator Shehu Buba Umar by his full name, suggesting the term ‘Shehu’ is too generic to constitute a specific accusation. Supporters of the APC candidate have been advised to remain patient while the investigation proceeds.
