PRP Bauchi Governorship Candidate says rivals are “desperate” ahead of 2027
ABUJA — Senator and Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, governorship candidate for Bauchi State, Alh. Shehu Buba, has accused his political opponents of circulating doctored videos of “bandit kingpins” to blackmail and discredit him ahead of the 2027 elections.
Buba, who currently chairs the Senate Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry, said he has never sponsored bandits nor hosted any kingpin in his residence, and that the allegations are part of a coordinated campaign driven by financial and partisan motives.
“I will not bow to blackmail because I have neither sponsored bandits nor hosted bandit kingpins in my house,” Buba said in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday. “The allegations are false and malicious.”
—“TAKEN THE MATTER TO COURT”—
The Bauchi South Senator said he has already instituted legal action against those behind the manipulated videos in courts in Nigeria and at the Court of First Instance in Niger Republic.
He challenged individuals and organisations with credible evidence of wrongdoing to submit it to appropriate authorities, insisting that he has “nothing to hide and nothing to fear from any legitimate investigation.”
“My decision to leave the All Progressives Congress for the Peoples Redemption Party, on which platform I am pursuing my gubernatorial aspiration, should be debated on policies, competence and vision — not on fabricated allegations,” he said.
—WHY HE KEPT SILENT—
Buba explained that his previous role as Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence constrained him from responding earlier.
“For much of my public life, I have resisted the temptation to respond to every allegation. But national security demands discretion. Operational successes cannot always be publicised without jeopardising ongoing efforts, exposing sources or endangering individuals,” he said.
He noted that during his two years leading the security committee, he pushed for a blend of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches — including community engagement, dialogue, intelligence gathering and deradicalisation.
“Some of these interventions cannot responsibly be discussed in detail. Revealing identities of intermediaries or operational information could endanger patriotic citizens and undermine ongoing efforts. My silence should never be interpreted as an absence of service,” he added.
—ON DISINFORMATION—
Buba warned that modern disinformation thrives on recycling old clips and repackaging them with new captions until “repetition masquerades as evidence.”
“It is deeply unfortunate when acts of compassion or legitimate security-related contacts are stripped of context and repackaged as evidence of wrongdoing,” he said.
The Senator called on journalists, fact-checkers, civil society and opinion leaders to verify the videos, examine their origins, and consult security institutions before publication.
“Verify the videos. Examine their origins. Establish the identities of the individuals involved. Review court records. Subject my explanations to scrutiny as well,” he urged.
—APPEAL TO SUPPORTERS—
Buba urged PRP supporters and Bauchi voters to remain calm and focus on the 2027 race.
“Let us remain calm, disciplined and committed to the democratic process. I welcome scrutiny, but scrutiny must be fair. There is a difference between investigation and fabrication, between criticism and blackmail, and between political opposition and deliberate character assassination,” he said.
He stated further: “I will continue to defend my name through lawful means. More importantly, I will continue the work that has defined my public life: serving my constituents, supporting those in need and contributing to the peace and security of our nation. The facts should speak louder than propaganda.”
