[2][3] His election came after UPKO's incumbent member Wilfred Madius Tangau stood down citing the wishes of the party's leadership.

[4] In 2011, he left UPKO to sit in Parliament as a member of People's Justice Party (PKR) of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

[5] He recontested the 2013 election as a PKR candidate, but lost his seat to Tangau, who had returned to the UPKO deputy presidency.

[6] In 2016 Wilfred Bumburing left PKR for the newly formed Love Sabah Party (PCS) and was elected as its new president.

[7] On 16 February 2024, Wilfred Bumburing returned to the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) after leaving the party for 12 years.