Shinkafi asks INEC to drop Ya’u as APC senatorial candidate

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u’s name as the party’s candidate for Zamfara North Senatorial District following a Court of Appeal judgment nullifying the disputed primary.

Shinkafi, an aspirant for the senatorial seat, said the commission’s continued publication of Ya’u’s name contradicted the judgments of the Federal High Court in Gusau and the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division.

The Court of Appeal, in a judgment delivered on October 20, 2026, dismissed Ya’u’s appeal as “grossly unmeritorious” and affirmed the lower court’s decision setting aside the disputed APC primary.

The appellate court also upheld the order directing the party to conduct a fresh primary election for all cleared aspirants.

In a statement issued through his legal representatives, YAS Law Firm, and dated October 27, Shinkafi said INEC should immediately withdraw Ya’u’s name to uphold the rule of law.

“It is curious that the Independent National Electoral Commission continues to parade Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u as the APC Zamfara North Senatorial candidate in defiance of the Court of Appeal judgment and the Federal High Court Gusau judgment,” the statement said.

Shinkafi’s lawyers said INEC was a party to the proceedings and had been served with certified true copies of the judgments.

They argued that the commission’s action raised concerns about its commitment to electoral integrity and respect for judicial decisions.

“The integrity of the electoral umpire is at stake,” the statement added.

The dispute followed the Federal High Court’s decision in Suit No. FHC/GS/CS/6/2026, which nullified the disputed APC primary and ordered a fresh exercise involving all aspirants who had been cleared to contest.

Ya’u subsequently challenged the ruling at the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/S/239/2026. However, the appellate court dismissed the appeal and affirmed the lower court’s judgment.

In a letter to INEC Chairman, the lawyers urged the commission to withdraw the senator’s name pending the fresh primary ordered by the court or the final determination of the matter by the Supreme Court.

They maintained that publishing a candidate’s name before compliance with the court order would undermine due process and electoral jurisprudence.

Shinkafi also alleged that some forces were working to prevent the APC from fielding a candidate for the senatorial district, citing previous instances in which courts nullified party primaries and affected the outcome of elections.

However, the allegation was not independently substantiated in the statement.

“Let it be clear, this injustice shall not stand,” Shinkafi said, pledging to continue supporting representative governance and democratic principles.

The development comes as political parties prepare for the 2027 general elections, with compliance with electoral laws and judicial decisions expected to remain central to disputes over candidate selection.