The All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election in Zamfara State could not proceed on Monday as planned due to unresolved disagreements over a proposed consensus arrangement. Party stakeholders convened a meeting at the Government House in Gusau, where aspirants were urged to consider adopting a consensus candidate to prevent internal divisions within the party.
Meeting with Stakeholders
Sources revealed that the meeting involved Governor Dauda Lawal and former governors, with the notable absence of Senator Abdulaziz Yari. Efforts were made to persuade aspirants to step down in favor of a consensus arrangement. However, the discussions were tense, with heated arguments breaking out as some aspirants rejected the proposal.
According to a member of the primary election committee who spoke on condition of anonymity, the party had preferred the consensus option to avoid further confusion and internal conflict. This approach was reportedly aligned with guidance from the party’s national secretariat.
Aspirants Divided
While some aspirants eventually agreed to step down, others insisted on proceeding with a direct primary election. They argued that only a competitive primary would guarantee fairness and unity within the party. Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, one of the aspirants, declared that he would not withdraw from the race. “I am not going to step down for any aspirant because I prefer primary elections,” he said. He urged the party leadership and election committee to ensure a transparent process, stressing that a primary election would prevent accusations of bias and promote fairness among contestants.
The stalemate has left the primary election in limbo, with party officials now seeking a way forward to resolve the impasse.
