Shinkafi demands cancellation of Zamfara North APC primary over alleged electoral fraud

The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial aspirant for Zamfara North, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has called for the immediate cancellation of the party’s November 2, 2026, senatorial primary election, alleging widespread irregularities and violations of electoral guidelines.

Shinkafi made the demand during a press briefing in Gusau, where he described the exercise conducted across Birnin-Magaji, Shinkafi, Kaura Namoda and Zurmi Local Government Areas as fraudulent.

He alleged that the primary election was conducted without following statutory procedures and accused those involved of fabricating election results.

According to him, original voting materials, official result sheets and party registers were unavailable at designated polling locations.

He further alleged that photocopied result sheets were brought to unauthorised venues after party members had already dispersed.

The aspirant insisted that the alleged irregularities undermined the credibility of the exercise and called on the party leadership to nullify the primary election.

The aspirant also claimed that no proper accreditation or verification of APC membership cards and biometric voter identification was conducted, thereby denying thousands of registered party members the opportunity to exercise their voting rights.

Shinkafi further alleged that conflicting timelines, unannounced changes of venues and communication breakdowns created confusion among aspirants and their supporters during the exercise.

He accused armed actors and irregular security personnel of hijacking designated voting and collation centres, intimidating party members and agents, and allegedly using gunshots to disperse his supporters.

According to him, the exercise was also conducted and declared by unauthorized Local Government Collation Officers and ward returning officers who were neither appointed nor recognized by the APC National Working Committee.

Shinkafi alleged that results were secretly collated at undisclosed locations without the participation of his accredited agents, adding that the purported results were not distributed to the candidates’ representatives as required by party guidelines.

He maintained that the statutory APC Senatorial Primary Election Committee deployed to Zamfara State failed to discharge its responsibilities, allowing unauthorised individuals to take control of the process.

The aspirant also disputed the emergence of two conflicting declarations following the exercise, with the committee chairman reportedly declaring Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u Kaura as the winner, while another committee member declared Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura.

Shinkafi stressed that there was no consensus arrangement between him, Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura or any other aspirant, dismissing reports suggesting otherwise.

He argued that the alleged irregularities violated provisions of the APC guidelines and the Electoral Act 2026, insisting that the exercise was conducted without a credible voting process.

The aspirant consequently called on the APC National Chairman, National Working Committee and National Election Appeals Committee to immediately nullify the purported primary election.

He also demanded that the party set aside the names of the declared candidates and refrain from transmitting any of them to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the APC candidate for Zamfara North Senatorial District.

Shinkafi further called for a fresh, transparent direct primary election across the four local government areas, to be monitored by INEC and conducted by a duly authorized committee appointed by the party’s NWC.

He also demanded disciplinary action against individuals and officials allegedly involved in compromising the integrity of the exercise.

The aspirant said he remained committed to pursuing his grievances through lawful means, warning that he would approach a court of law to seek redress against Senators Sahabi Ya’u Kaura and Tijjani Yahaya Kaura if his demands were not addressed.

He emphasized that the rule of law and democratic principles must be upheld to protect the electoral fortunes of the APC in Zamfara North.

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