By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The All Progressives Congress has suffered a major setback in Zamfara North after a Federal High Court nullified its May 19, 2026 senatorial primary and ordered the party to conduct a fresh exercise within 14 days.
Delivering the judgment virtually in Gusau, Justice Hassan Dikko upheld a pre-election suit filed by APC aspirant Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi. The court declared the primary that produced Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election invalid.
The APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura were listed as defendants in the suit.
Briefing journalists after the ruling, counsel to the plaintiff, Bello Galadi, said the court agreed with his client that no valid primary was held on May 19, 2026.
According to Galadi, Justice Dikko found evidence of overvoting and ruled that the APC failed to comply substantially with its Constitution, its guidelines for primaries, and the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
“Consequently, the court set aside the purported primary and directed the APC to conduct a fresh exercise within 14 days,” Galadi said. He described the judgment as “a victory for democracy and a reaffirmation of the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.”
Counsel to the APC and Senator Sahabi Ya’u, Musbahu Salawudeen, also spoke to reporters and welcomed the court’s directive. He said the order gives the party a chance to avoid being excluded from the 2027 general elections.
“That is the beauty of the judiciary. My Lord has given another window and opportunity to the APC that they can have a second bite, now that a fresh primary will be conducted within 14 days from today,” Salawudeen stated.
He added that his legal team would study the judgment in detail before advising Senator Sahabi Ya’u on whether to accept the ruling or file an appeal. He stressed that the final decision rests with his client.
Salawudeen expressed optimism that even with a fresh primary, Senator Sahabi Ya’u would emerge again as the APC candidate for Zamfara North.
In his reaction, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi described the judgment as a victory for democracy and the rule of law. He urged the national leadership of the APC to conduct the fresh primary in strict compliance with the Electoral Act and the party’s guidelines.
“The decision has reaffirmed the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, particularly for those seeking legal redress when their rights were allegedly violated,” Shinkafi said.
He called on the APC and other political parties to adhere strictly to their constitutions, internal guidelines, and relevant electoral laws in conducting party primaries.
Shinkafi further cautioned political parties against actions that could undermine democratic processes, and urged aggrieved members to seek legal redress instead of resorting to violence or other unlawful means.
