Zamfara: Shinkafi Accuses INEC Of Defying Court Ruling On APC Candidate

Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and aspirant for Zamfara North Senatorial District, has demanded the immediate withdrawal of Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u’s name as the party’s candidate following a Court of Appeal judgment upholding the nullification of the disputed primary election.

Shinkafi, in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday, accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of disregarding subsisting court judgments by continuing to publish Ya’u as the APC candidate for the senatorial district.

The Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division, on October 20, 2026, dismissed Ya’u’s appeal, marked CA/S/239/2026, as grossly unmeritorious and affirmed the August 31, 2026 judgment of the Federal High Court, Gusau, which nullified the disputed APC primary.

The appellate court upheld the lower court’s order directing the APC to conduct a fresh primary election for all cleared aspirants in the Zamfara North senatorial race.

Shinkafi argued that INEC’s continued recognition of Ya’u, despite the judgments, undermined the authority of the judiciary and raised questions about the commission’s commitment to electoral integrity.

He maintained that the commission had been duly served with the court judgments and was a party to the proceedings.

“As a democratic institution, it is inconceivable that INEC will glaringly violate electoral jurisprudence at this critical stage of the 2027 general election process,” Shinkafi said.

He urged the electoral umpire to withdraw Ya’u’s name and ensure compliance with the appellate court’s decision, arguing that obedience to court orders was essential to public confidence in the electoral process.

The APC chieftain also warned that failure to resolve the dispute in accordance with the court’s directives could jeopardise the party’s chances in the senatorial district.

He alleged that forces opposed to the APC were working to ensure that the party would be left without a candidate in Zamfara North, citing previous electoral disputes in which courts invalidated party primaries.

Shinkafi, however, insisted that the dispute must be resolved through strict adherence to the law and the court-ordered fresh primary.

In a further move, he disclosed that he had instructed his lawyer to formally write to the INEC Chairman, notifying the commission of the alleged unlawful publication of Ya’u’s name.

A letter dated October 27, 2026, signed by S.Y. Aliyu of Yas Law Firm and addressed to the INEC Chairman, requested the withdrawal of Ya’u’s name pending compliance with the court’s order or further determination of the matter by the Supreme Court.

The letter cited the Federal High Court judgment in suit No. FHC/GS/CS/6/2026 and the subsequent Court of Appeal decision affirming it.

It argued that the publication of a candidate’s name before the fresh primary ordered by the court would undermine due process and electoral jurisprudence.

The letter also urged INEC to take immediate steps to address the matter, stating that copies of the appellate court judgment and the commission’s candidate publication were attached.

Shinkafi said he would continue to pursue the matter through lawful means, stressing the need to protect the rule of law and strengthen democratic governance.

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