Shinkafi Faults INEC Over Publication Of Ya’u As Zamfara North APC Candidate

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.

According to him, INEC, as the electoral umpire, had a responsibility to protect the credibility and integrity of the electoral process, including the nomination processes of political parties.

He said publishing the name of a candidate before the fresh primary ordered by the court, or before the matter was finally determined by the appellate courts, could undermine the authority of the judiciary.

“Publishing any candidate’s name prior to a fresh primary election ordered by the court, or determination of the matter at the appellate court undermines the judiciary as the temple of justice and the last hope of aggrieved citizens.

“Disobeying a court order in a matter which the commission was a party to and fully represented will erode public confidence in the electoral system,” he stated.

Shinkafi therefore demanded the immediate withdrawal of Ya’u’s name as the APC candidate for Zamfara North pending compliance with the court’s order.

He also recalled previous decisions of the Supreme Court in which APC primaries in Zamfara State were nullified during past general elections, resulting in electoral consequences for the party.

Meanwhile, counsel to Shinkafi, YAS Law Firm, has formally petitioned the INEC chairman over the publication.

In a letter dated September 18, 2026, and titled, “Notice Of Unlawful Publication Of Sen. Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u As APC Candidate For Zamfara North Senatorial District In Defiance Of Existing Federal High Court Judgement,” the law firm urged the commission to stay further action on the publication.

The letter, signed by S.Y. Aliyu, Esq., stated: “In light of the subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court, we urge the Commission to immediately withdraw and stay the publication of Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u as the APC candidate, pending the final determination of the matter in the appellate courts or pending the fresh primary election ordered by the court, to preserve the rule of law.”

The relevant orders contained in the August 31 judgment stated that due process was not followed by the defendants, including APC, INEC and Ya’u, in conducting the May 19 primary, declaring the exercise “null and void.”

The court further held that the actions of APC and Ya’u were inconsistent with the internal democracy of the party.

It consequently ordered APC to conduct a fresh primary for Zamfara North for all cleared aspirants within 14 days of the judgment.

The court also directed INEC to accept and publish the name of any candidate who validly emerges from the fresh primary ordered by the court.