Primary elections: Shinkafi sues APC and INEC, outlines his demands

Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, a leading candidate for the Zamfara North Senatorial District, has taken the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Federal High Court in Gusau. He is contesting the party’s primary election held on 19 May 2026 and alleging that the process was flawed and that a consensus candidate was imposed without proper procedure.

Shinkafi, a former All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chieftain, claims that no written consent was obtained for his withdrawal and that he did not endorse any candidate as the consensus nominee. He argues that the APC failed to observe due process before declaring Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u the consensus candidate, calling the party’s actions a “clear disdain for democracy and the internal democracy of political parties in the country.”

He warned that continued abuse of the law by those in authority could lead to chaos, lawlessness, and a regression of society. Shinkafi, who also served as Patron of the Tinubu‑Shettima Presidential Campaign Council 2023, filed the suit against the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Senator Ya’u at the Federal High Court, Gusau.

Counsel for Shinkafi, Bello Idris Galadi Esq., submitted Suit No. FHC/GS/CS/6/2026 on 25 May 2026. The petition seeks the court’s interpretation of several constitutional and statutory provisions, including:

• Whether, under Section 84(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, the APC was obligated to conduct primaries for all elective positions;
• Whether, under Section 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, the APC was required to nominate candidates through direct primaries or consensus;
• Whether the APC’s actions contravened internal democracy and Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026;
• Whether the APC complied with Sections 86 and 87(1), (2), (3) of the Electoral Act 2026, Article 20.4(1) of the APC Constitution, and Article A, Sections (i)–(iv) of the APC Guidelines for Direct and Consensus Primaries.

Shinkafi’s claims against the APC, INEC, and Senator Ya’u include:

• A declaration that due process was not followed in the purported primary held on 19 May 2026;
• A declaration that the actions of the APC and INEC were inconsistent with the APC’s internal democracy;
• A declaration that no consensus or direct primary occurred for the nomination of Zamfara North candidates;
• An order setting aside the alleged primary election;
• An order directing the APC to conduct a fresh primary for all cleared aspirants;
• An order requiring the defendants to uphold internal democracy and the rule of law in future nominations;
• An injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from further breaches of constitutional and statutory provisions; and
• Any other orders the court deems necessary.

In a 21‑paragraph affidavit, Shinkafi stated that he paid N20 million for the APC expression‑of‑interest and nomination forms on 30 April 2026. After submitting the completed forms, a party committee cleared three aspirants—Hanafi Musa Moriki, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, and Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u—for the primary election.

Shinkafi previously criticized the arbitrary imposition of a candidate for Zamfara North and sent a petition to the APC National Chairman and the Chairman of the APC Senate Primary Election Committee.

No hearing date has yet been set, and the case could alter the political landscape in Zamfara State ahead of the 2027 general election.