A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and aspirant for Zamfara North Senatorial District, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for publishing the name of Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u as the party’s candidate despite a Federal High Court judgment nullifying the primary election that produced him.
Shinkafi, who spoke with journalists in Gusau on Saturday said the commission’s action undermined the authority of the judiciary and could weaken confidence in the electoral process.
The Federal High Court, Gusau Judicial Division, presided over by Justice Hassan Dikko, had in Suit No. FHC/GS/CS/6/2026, delivered on August 31, 2026, nullified the APC Zamfara North senatorial primary conducted on May 19, 2026.
The court held that due process was not followed in the conduct of the primary and that the exercise breached the Electoral Act, 2026, as well as the party’s guidelines.
It subsequently set aside the primary and ordered the APC to conduct a fresh primary for all cleared aspirants within 14 days of the judgment.
The court also directed INEC, which was joined as a defendant in the suit, to accept and publish the name of the candidate who validly emerges from the fresh primary.
But Shinkafi said INEC’s publication of Ya’u’s name before compliance with the court order was inappropriate and amounted to a disregard for the judicial process.
“It is inappropriate, unfair, unjust and an assault on the nation’s emerging democracy for INEC to flagrantly violate a clear order of a court of competent jurisdiction. The commission was duly served the Certified True Copy of the court order for compliance,” he said.
