A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Sani Shinkafi, has initiated a legal challenge at the Federal High Court in Gusau against the selection of Senator Sahabi Ya’u as the party's consensus candidate for the Zamfara North Senatorial District. The suit, filed on May 25, 2026, and marked FHC/GS/CS/6/2026, names the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Senator Ya’u as defendants. Shinkafi, represented by counsel Bello Idris Galadi, contends that the party violated the Electoral Act and its own internal guidelines by imposing a candidate without a valid consensus agreement.
Background of the Dispute
Shinkafi, who was among the aspirants cleared for the APC primary election, argues that no legitimate consensus was reached among the three cleared aspirants: Hanafi Musa Moriki, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, and Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u. He maintains that he did not withdraw from the race or endorse any candidate before the primary, which was reportedly held on May 19, 2026. In a 21-paragraph affidavit, Shinkafi details that he purchased the nomination and expression of interest forms for N20 million on April 30, 2026, and was subsequently screened by the party's committee. He insists that the party failed to comply with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and the APC constitution governing direct and consensus primaries.
Allegations of Procedural Violations
Shinkafi accuses the APC of disregarding democratic principles, stating that there was no written consent from him indicating voluntary withdrawal or endorsement of a consensus candidate. He asserts that the party's decision to declare Senator Ya’u as the consensus candidate on May 19 was made without due process. In his words, “The attitude of the APC is a clear disdain for democracy and the internal democracy of political parties in Nigeria.”
Reliefs Sought in Court
Among the reliefs sought, Shinkafi requests the court to declare that there was neither a lawful consensus arrangement nor a valid direct primary election conducted by the APC in the district. He also seeks an order nullifying the outcome of the exercise and compelling the party to organize a fresh primary involving all cleared aspirants. Additionally, he prays for an injunction restraining the defendants from actions that could breach constitutional and statutory provisions regulating party primaries. Shinkafi warns that failure to grant these reliefs could lead to “chaos, lawlessness, and dictatorship,” emphasizing that “the law and society shall suffer irreparable damage if the reliefs sought are not granted.”
Next Steps
The legal action follows a petition Shinkafi reportedly sent to the APC National Chairman and the chairman of the party’s Senate Primary Election Committee, protesting the alleged imposition of Senator Ya’u. He has vowed to challenge the process in court, accusing influential political figures in the state of manipulating the exercise. As of now, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
