Appeal Court Judgement: Shinkafi Demands INEC Withdraw Ya’u’s Name As APC Zamfara North Senatorial Candidate

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and aspirant for the Zamfara North Senatorial District, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately withdraw Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u’s name as the party’s senatorial candidate following a Court of Appeal judgement upholding the nullification of the disputed primary election.

In a press statement, Shinkafi condemned INEC’s continued publication of Ya’u as the APC candidate, arguing that the action disregarded the judgements of the Federal High Court in Gusau and the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division.

The Court of Appeal, in its judgement delivered on October 20, 2026, by Justice Abubakar M. Talba, dismissed Ya’u’s appeal as grossly unmeritorious and affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court in Gusau in Suit No. FHC/GS/CS/6/2026.

According to Shinkafi, the lower court had nullified the purported APC primary election for the Zamfara North Senatorial District and ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary involving all aspirants who had been cleared to participate.

He maintained that INEC’s continued recognition of Ya’u as the party’s candidate, despite the court decisions, raised serious questions about the commission’s commitment to the rule of law and the integrity of the electoral process.

The APC chieftain said INEC had been duly served with certified true copies of the judgements and was a party to the legal proceedings.

He argued that the commission should respect the decisions of courts of competent jurisdiction, warning that failure to do so could undermine public confidence in the judiciary and the electoral umpire ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“As a democratic institution, it is inconceivable that INEC will glaringly violate electoral jurisprudence at this critical stage of the 2027 general election process,” Shinkafi stated.

He urged the commission to use the opportunity to rebuild public trust, uphold electoral integrity and demonstrate its commitment to the rule of law.

Shinkafi also expressed concern that the controversy could affect the APC’s participation in the Zamfara North senatorial contest if the party failed to comply with the court’s directive to conduct a fresh primary.

He alleged that anti-democratic forces were working to prevent the APC from fielding a candidate in the district, drawing parallels with previous election disputes in which court decisions affected the party’s candidates.

In a further move to press his demand, Shinkafi disclosed that he had instructed his lawyer to write formally to the INEC chairman over the publication of Ya’u’s name.

The letter, dated October 27, 2026, and signed by S.Y. Aliyu, Esq., of Yas Law Firm, notified the commission of what the lawyers described as the unlawful publication of Ya’u’s name as the APC candidate in defiance of existing court judgements.

The lawyers recalled that the Federal High Court in Gusau had set aside the disputed primary election and ruled that there was no valid candidate arising from the exercise because of alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act and the party’s guidelines.

They further cited the Court of Appeal’s decision affirming the lower court’s judgement and directing the APC to conduct a fresh primary involving all cleared aspirants.

The legal representatives urged INEC to withdraw the publication of Ya’u’s name pending the fresh primary ordered by the court or further determination of the matter by the Supreme Court.

They argued that recognising a candidate before compliance with the court-ordered process would undermine due process and electoral jurisprudence.

Shinkafi said the letter had been submitted to and acknowledged by the commission.

Reaffirming his position, Shinkafi said he would continue to support democratic governance and the strengthening of representative institutions in Nigeria.

“Let it be clear: this injustice shall not stand,” he declared, describing his intervention as part of his commitment to democracy, his party and the country.

The dispute has placed the APC’s Zamfara North senatorial candidacy under renewed legal scrutiny as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue.