2027: INEC publishes Ya’u as Zamfara North APC candidate despite court order

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has published Senator Sahabi Ya’u as the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for Zamfara North Senatorial District in the 2027 election, despite a Federal High Court order nullifying the party’s earlier primary.

APC senatorial aspirant, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, condemned the publication, alleging that it contravened the August 31, 2026, judgment of the Federal High Court in Gusau.

Justice Hassan Dikko had nullified the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 19 and ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary involving all cleared aspirants within 14 days. The court also directed INEC to accept and publish the candidate who validly emerges from the fresh primary.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Shinkafi said INEC had been served with a certified copy of the judgment and was expected to comply with the court’s directives.

“It is inappropriate, unfair, unjust and an assault on the nation’s emerging democracy for INEC to flagrantly violate a clear order of a court of competent jurisdiction,” he said.

Shinkafi’s legal representatives, YAS Law Firm, also wrote to the INEC Chairman on September 18, asking the commission to withdraw Ya’u’s name from the publication.

The law firm referenced Suit No. FHC/GS/CS/6/2026 and maintained that the May 19 primary had been nullified for allegedly failing to comply with the Electoral Act and the APC’s internal procedures.

It urged INEC to refrain from further action on Ya’u’s candidacy pending the conduct of a fresh primary or the final determination of the matter by the appellate courts.

Shinkafi said proceeding with Ya’u’s publication despite the court ruling could undermine confidence in the electoral process and place the APC’s Zamfara North nomination under further legal scrutiny.