2027: Ex-Zamfara deputy gov rejects Shinkafi’s emergence as ADC candidate

Former Zamfara State deputy governor, Mahdi Aliyu Gusau, has rejected the emergence of Bilyaminu Shinkafi as the African Democratic Congress, ADC, governorship candidate for the 2027 general election in the state.

Gusau, through his campaign organisation, alleged that Shinkafi’s name was uploaded on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, portal as the party’s governorship candidate, describing the development as an alleged manipulation of the electoral process.

The former deputy governor maintained that he remains the candidate produced by the ADC governorship primary held in Zamfara State, where he secured 35,665 votes to defeat other aspirants.

According to the campaign organisation, the primary election was conducted in the presence of INEC officials, security agencies, party executives and delegates from the 14 local government areas of the state.

The organisation said Gusau was subsequently declared the winner by the chairman of the ADC governorship primary election committee.

It questioned the emergence of Shinkafi’s name on the INEC portal, alleging that he was not a card-carrying member of the ADC.

The group further questioned how Shinkafi’s name came to be listed as the party’s governorship candidate despite Gusau’s alleged victory in the primary.

It warned that it would challenge what it described as an attempt to alter the outcome of the party’s primary and called on relevant authorities and stakeholders to uphold the result of the exercise.

The organisation also cited provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC regulations, arguing that a candidate who participated in the primary election of one political party could not subsequently seek the ticket of another party.