A group, Concerned APC Youths Bauchi South, has asked the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the APC National Chairman to declare the Bauchi South senatorial seat vacant following Senator Shehu Buba Umar’s defection to the People’s Redemption Party (PRP).
The group said it submitted a petition on 2nd July, 2026 to both Akpabio and the APC National Secretariat, and received acknowledgements from both offices.
In a statement dated 17th July, 2026, and issued to journalists by the chairman, Aminu Garba, the youths said they are relying on Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which deals with defection by lawmakers elected on a party platform.
According to the group, Senator Buba’s decision to dump the APC for the PRP triggered the petition.
They argued that “the Senator’s public defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC), the political party under whose platform he was elected, to the People’s Redemption Party (PRP)” necessitates constitutional action.
The youths further stated:
“We maintain that the electoral mandate freely given to Senator Shehu Buba Umar by the people of Bauchi South Senatorial District was obtained under the platform of the APC, and any voluntary abandonment of that platform must be subjected to the provisions of the Constitution.”
“We firmly believe that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria remains supreme and must be respected by every elected public office holder irrespective of political status or influence”, he added.
The group called on Akpabio, the National Assembly, the APC National Working Committee, INEC and other relevant bodies “to urgently consider and act on the petition in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law.”
It also gave a 14-day deadline for action.
“We hereby give the aforementioned authorities fourteen (14) days from the date of this press release to take the necessary constitutional and administrative steps in response to our petition.
“Failure to take appropriate action within this period will leave us with no alternative but to pursue every lawful and constitutional remedy available, including seeking judicial intervention and engaging all democratic institutions to ensure that the Constitution is upheld”, he said.