Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, a frontline aspirant for the Zamfara North Senatorial District, has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Gusau, challenging the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) recent primary election outcome in the district. The suit, filed on May 25, 2026, names the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u as defendants. Shinkafi alleges that the APC unlawfully imposed Ya’u as the consensus candidate without following due process or obtaining written consent from cleared aspirants, including himself.
Shinkafi insists that no formal consensus was reached among the three aspirants cleared by the party — himself, Hanafi Musa Moriki, and Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u — to select a candidate. He claims there was no written withdrawal from his participation in the race and that he never endorsed Ya’u as a consensus candidate. He argues that the APC’s actions violate Section 84 and Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandate direct primaries or consensus-based nominations for political party candidates.
The former All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chieftain and Patron of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council 2023 is seeking several reliefs, including a declaration that the May 19, 2026, primary election was invalid and lacked legal foundation. He also wants the court to order a fresh primary election for the Zamfara North Senatorial District, involving all cleared aspirants. Additionally, he is asking for an injunction to prevent further breaches of electoral laws and to uphold internal party democracy.
In his affidavit, Shinkafi stated that he paid N20 million for the APC nomination forms on April 30, 2026, and was officially cleared by the party’s screening committee. He had previously raised concerns about the arbitrary imposition of a candidate and submitted a petition to the APC National Chairman and the Senate Primary Election Committee. Despite these efforts, the party proceeded to declare Ya’u as the consensus candidate without following proper procedures.
Shinkafi’s counsel, Bello Idris Galadi Esq., filed Suit No. FHC/GS/CS/6/2026, seeking legal interpretations of key provisions in the Electoral Act 2026 and the APC’s internal guidelines. The suit challenges the legality of the party’s actions and seeks to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s political processes. Shinkafi warns that failure to address these violations could lead to chaos, lawlessness, and a retreat into dictatorship.
The case has not yet been scheduled for hearing, and its outcome could significantly impact the political landscape in Zamfara State ahead of the 2027 general elections. The court’s decision may set a precedent for how political parties conduct primaries and uphold democratic principles within their structures.
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