The Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto has dismissed the appeal filed by Senator Sahabi Ya'u Kaura against a Federal High Court ruling on the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election for Zamfara North Senatorial District. The appellate court upheld the earlier order for a fresh primary election in the district.
Counsel to the first respondent, Bello Galadi, confirmed the outcome to journalists shortly after the judgment was delivered in Sokoto on Tuesday. He said the court considered all the issues the senator raised and found none of them sufficient to overturn the lower court's decision.
Appeal Court rejects all arguments raised by Senator Kaura
One of the key arguments Senator Kaura had brought before the Court of Appeal was that the Federal High Court in Gusau lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case in the first place. The appellate court disagreed and affirmed the lower court's authority to hear and decide the matter.
The senator had also argued that the Federal High Court wrongly placed the burden of proof on him. The Court of Appeal rejected this position too, finding that the evidence already on record was enough to establish that the APC's own rules and guidelines had not been followed during the primary.
Galadi described the outcome as a win not just for his client but for the broader principle that no individual is above the law, regardless of political position. "This judgment has vindicated my client's decision to pursue the case, and it has sent a strong message to those who consider themselves above the law," he said.
Background to the Zamfara North APC primary dispute
Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi had filed a case at the Federal High Court in Gusau, claiming that the APC primary election for Zamfara North was either not held at all or was marred by serious irregularities. The court ruled in his favour and directed that a fresh primary be conducted within 14 days. It was that ruling which Senator Kaura took to the Court of Appeal, but the appellate court has now backed the lower court's position in full.
Following Tuesday's decision, Dr Shinkafi called the ruling a victory for democracy and urged his supporters across Shinkafi, Birnin Magaji, Zurmi, and Kaura Namoda local government areas to keep pushing for fair political representation in the district.
The ruling effectively removes Senator Kaura as the APC candidate for Zamfara North, and the party is now expected to conduct a new primary election in line with the court's directive.
