ADC Appeals Committee Orders Fresh Primaries In Kaduna, Upholds Mikati’s Governorship Candidacy

The Appeals Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna State has upheld the emergence of Shuaibu Idris Mikati as the party’s governorship candidate while ordering fresh and rerun primary elections in several federal and state constituencies.

Chairman of the Appeals Committee, Dr. Muhammed Mustapha Fagge, announced the decisions after the panel concluded its review of petitions arising from the party’s recently conducted primary elections.

Fagge said the committee examined petitions, documentary evidence and submissions from aggrieved aspirants before reaching its conclusions.

According to him, the committee affirmed Mikati’s nomination after determining that he secured the highest number of valid votes cast in the governorship primary.

The panel also upheld the victories of Tukur Salisu Kakeyi in the Zaria Federal Constituency primary and Muhammed Mahmoud Aliyu in the Soba Federal Constituency contest, citing the results of votes cast during the exercises.

However, the committee ordered fresh or rerun primaries in a number of constituencies where it identified irregularities, procedural lapses, omitted aspirants or insufficient evidence regarding the conduct of the elections.

In the Ikara/Kubau Federal Constituency, the committee directed a rerun primary after finding that a screened aspirant, Ibrahim Danlami Kubau, was omitted from the ballot.

A fresh primary election was also ordered for Kaduna South Federal Constituency following findings that there was inadequate evidence to confirm that elections were conducted across all wards in the constituency.

Fagge said rerun elections would take place in affected wards and constituencies across Kaura, Soba, Ikara, Kajuru, Badarawa/Malali, Magajin Gari II, Birnin Gwari, Tudun Wada West, Igabi, Kagarko, Kawo, Zaria, Chikun/Kajuru and Kudan/Makarfi, among others.

The committee also ruled on the Kaduna North Senatorial District primary, stating that any consensus or affirmation arrangement must have the consent of all parties involved to be considered valid.

Fagge said the committee’s decisions were based on the evidence presented and the provisions of the party’s guidelines.

He added that the panel sought to ensure fairness, transparency and compliance with the party’s electoral procedures in resolving disputes arising from the primaries.