By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The All Progressives Congress has been ordered back to the drawing board in Zamfara North after a Federal High Court nullified its May 19, 2026 senatorial primary and directed the party to conduct a fresh election within 14 days.
In a virtual judgment delivered in Gusau, Justice Hassan Dikko upheld the pre-election suit filed by APC aspirant Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, ruling that the primary which produced Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura as the party’s candidate was invalid.
Joined as defendants in the suit were the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura.
Addressing journalists after the ruling, counsel to the plaintiff, Bello Galadi, said the court sustained his client’s argument that no credible primary took place on May 19, 2026.
Galadi explained that Justice Dikko found evidence of overvoting and found that the APC had failed to comply substantially with its own Constitution, its guidelines for the conduct of 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 stated. He described the judgment as “a victory for democracy and a reaffirmation of the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.”
Also reacting, counsel to the APC and Senator Sahabi Ya’u, Musbahu Salawudeen, welcomed the court’s order for a fresh primary, saying it gives the party a chance to remain in contention for the 2027 general elections.
“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 said.
He said his team would study the judgment thoroughly before advising Senator Sahabi Ya’u on whether to accept it or file an appeal, noting that the decision ultimately lies with his client.
In his reaction, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi described the ruling as a victory for democracy and the rule of law, called on the national leadership of the APC to ensure the fresh primary is conducted in strict adherence to the Electoral Act and the party’s guidelines.
About the Author
