Zamfara APC Primaries: Aspirant Rejects Alleged Imposition, Calls Process ‘Political Banditry

An aspirant for the Zamfara North Senatorial seat, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has accused the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State of excluding duly cleared aspirants in favour of “anointed” candidates ahead of the party’s senatorial primary election scheduled for today.

Shinkafi, in a statement, described the process as an “imposition of candidates and political banditry,” alleging that the internal selection process lacked transparency and consultation.

He claimed that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, arrived in the state aboard a private jet alongside past and present governors to enforce what he described as a directive to withdraw certain aspirants in favour of serving senators.

According to him, the affected aspirants were informed that President Bola Tinubu had directed all senatorial aspirants to step down for sitting senators ahead of the primaries scheduled for May 19, 2026.

Shinkafi said no meeting or consultation was held with aspirants before the alleged directive was communicated.

“This undemocratic order, if actually made by Mr President, does not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026,” he said.

Citing Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2026, Shinkafi argued that political parties are required to conduct primaries for all elective positions through direct primaries or consensus arrangements, with the process supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He insisted that he was neither consulted nor did he withdraw from the race, adding that he did not submit any letter stepping down from the contest.

Shinkafi also urged his supporters in Zamfara North to boycott what he described as an “affirmation exercise,” alleging that political thugs had been mobilised to disrupt the primaries.

He further vowed to challenge his exclusion in court.

“I will challenge my unlawful exclusion from Zamfara North Senatorial Primary in court,” he said.

He warned that the situation could mirror the 2019 political crisis in Zamfara State, when internal disputes led to the Supreme Court nullifying APC primaries and ultimately handing victory to the opposition in the general election.