A Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, Zamfara State, has cancelled the May 19, 2026, All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for Zamfara North, ordering the party to conduct a fresh exercise within 14 days.
Justice Hassan Dikko, in a virtual judgment, held that the APC did not conduct a valid primary on the date in question.
The ruling followed a suit filed by an APC senatorial aspirant, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, challenging the emergence of Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura as the party’s candidate for the 2027 Zamfara North Senatorial District election.
The APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Senator Ya’u Kaura were joined as defendants in the suit.
Counsel to Shinkafi, Bello Galadi, said the court upheld his client’s contention that the primary process was flawed.
According to him, the court found evidence of overvoting and non-compliance with the APC Constitution, the party’s guidelines and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
The court consequently set aside the purported primary and directed the APC to conduct a fresh exercise within 14 days.
Galadi 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 Ya’u, Musbahu Salawudeen, also welcomed the ruling, describing it as another opportunity for the party to conduct the primary.
“That is the beauty of the judiciary. My Lord has given another window and opportunity to the APC that they can have a fresh primary within 14 days from today,” Salawudeen said.
He, however, said the legal team would study the judgment before advising Senator Ya’u on whether to accept the ruling or appeal it.
Salawudeen nevertheless expressed confidence that Ya’u could emerge as the APC candidate again if a fresh primary is conducted.
Reacting to the judgment, Shinkafi urged the APC national leadership to ensure that the fresh primary was conducted in strict compliance with the Electoral Act and the party’s guidelines.
He also called on political parties to respect their constitutions and warned against actions capable of undermining the democratic process.
Shinkafi further urged aggrieved party members to seek legal redress rather than resort to violence.
The ruling means the APC must conduct a fresh senatorial primary for Zamfara North on or before September 14, 2026, to determine its candidate for the 2027 election.
