Shinkafi is shocked by Zamfara North’s candidacy during court order

An All Progressives Congress (APC) leader and Zamfara North Senatorial District aspirant, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has expressed concern over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) publication of Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u’s name as the party’s candidate for the district.

Shinkafi, in a statement released on Saturday, said the Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, Zamfara State, in its judgment delivered on August 31, 2026, annulled the APC primary elections held on May 19 and ordered the party to conduct new primary elections within 14 days of the judgment.

He said the court also directed INEC to accept the result of the fresh primary elections, adding that the commission had been duly served with a certified copy of the compliance court order.

According to him, it was inappropriate, unfair and unjust for INEC to ignore what he described as a clear order from a competent court.

“The publication of any candidate’s name prior to a new court-ordered primary election, or the decision of the matter by the appellate court, undermines the judiciary as the temple of justice and the last hope of all aggrieved citizens.

“As an electoral umpire, INEC should safeguard the credibility and integrity of the electoral process, including the nomination processes of political parties.

“Disobeying a court order in a matter in which the commission was party to and fully represented will erode public confidence in the electoral system,” he said.

Shinkafi recalled that the Supreme Court, in previous general elections, had annulled APC primary elections and, in some cases, awarded victory to the political party that came second in polls, including governorship elections.

He urged INEC to immediately withdraw and suspend the publication of Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u as the candidate of the APC pending the final determination of the matter by the courts of appeal or the conduct of fresh primary elections ordered by the court.

He said such a step would help preserve the rule of law and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.