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Dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
I write this open letter with deep respect for your office and deep appreciation for your enduring commitment to democracy, justice and inclusive governance. Throughout your political journey, you have constantly projected yourself as a leader convinced that democracy draws its strength not only from elections but from the sacredness of the popular mandate. It is this belief that gives many Nigerians confidence in your leadership and inspires this humble appeal.
The recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary elections for Kwara South have produced a clear result. Party members exercised their democratic right, votes were cast and Dr Muheebah Dankaka emerged victorious. By any democratic standard, that victory represents the collective will of APC members in Kwara South and deserves to be respected and affirmed.
Mr. President, this is not simply a question of a candidate or a senatorial district. The credibility of the party’s internal democracy and the trust that party members place in the electoral process are at stake. Every primary election is a solemn pact between a political party and its members: a promise that their votes will count and that the candidate they freely choose will be recognized. Every time that trust is weakened, democracy itself is weakened.
This moment has even greater significance because Dr. Dankaka’s victory represents a rare milestone for women’s political participation in northern Nigeria. If, in fact, she is the only woman to have won the APC senatorial primaries in the nineteen Northern states this election cycle, then her rise is more than a personal achievement. It is a symbol of progress, hope and inclusion.
For decades, women in northern Nigeria have remained underrepresented in elected office, despite their notable contributions to national development. They have excelled as administrators, entrepreneurs, academics, professionals, and community leaders, but political representation has remained disproportionately low. Many capable women have been discouraged by cultural barriers, financial limitations, and political structures that make it difficult to obtain elected office.
When a woman overcomes these obstacles through the democratic process and earns the trust of party members, that victory should be celebrated and protected, not because she is a woman, but because she won fairly.
Your Excellency, your administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda places considerable emphasis on inclusion, equal opportunity and expanding participation in governance. These principles have inspired millions of Nigerians to believe that leadership should be accessible to every qualified citizen, regardless of gender, ethnicity or background.
This presents an opportunity to demonstrate that those ideals are not simply campaign promises, but enduring principles that guide the APC.
Affirming Dr Dankaka’s mandate would send a strong message: the APC remains a party where merit prevails, democratic choices are respected and internal democracy is protected. It would reassure women across Northern Nigeria that politics is not a closed space but a platform where competence, perseverance and public trust can still triumph.
More importantly, it would bolster the confidence of party members who participated in the primary election believing that their votes would determine the outcome. Democracy flourishes only when citizens believe that voting remains stronger than influence and that victory achieved through due process cannot be arbitrarily replaced.
Mr. President, throughout your illustrious political career, you have earned widespread recognition for identifying capable leaders and giving them the opportunity to serve. Many prominent public office holders today trace their political growth to a belief in talent, competence, and hard work rather than narrow considerations. This legacy has become one of the defining characteristics of your leadership.
Protecting Dr. Dankaka’s tenure would strengthen that legacy. It would demonstrate that your commitment to fairness goes beyond rhetoric and that democratic victories achieved through transparent processes deserve protection.
This appeal is not a request for special treatment. This is not to argue that women should be favored over men. Rather, it is a principled appeal for equal treatment according to the rules that govern our party. Where a candidate competed fairly, won legitimately and won the trust of party members, that mandate should be respected, regardless of gender.
At the same time, claiming his victory would have broader national significance. It would encourage more women to participate in politics, inspire young girls in northern Nigeria to aspire to leadership, and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic credentials by demonstrating that inclusion and merit can coexist.
Political parties are judged not only by the elections they win, but also by the integrity of the processes through which they choose their candidates.
The APC has built a reputation as a progressive party committed to democratic ideals. Preserving that reputation requires unwavering respect for the decisions freely made by its members.
History often presents leaders with decisive moments, moments when the choices they make become symbols of the values they represent. This is one of those moments. The decision taken with respect to Kwara South senatorial mandate will have resonance beyond Kwara State. He will speak to millions of Nigerians about the APC’s commitment to justice, internal democracy and the inclusion of women.
Your Excellency, I respectfully urge you, as the leader of our great party and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to encourage all relevant bodies of the APC to support the democratic choice of party members by affirming the mandate freely given to Dr. Muheebah Dankaka, in accordance with the party constitution and electoral law.
This will strengthen public confidence in the APC, deepen our democratic culture, and inspire a new generation of women to participate in public service. Above all, it will reaffirm the eternal democratic principle that the will of the people must always prevail.
May Almighty Allah continue to grant you wisdom, good health and strength to lead our great nation with justice, fairness and compassion.
Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim Salisu
National President,
Northern Women for Democracy and Inclusive Leadership (NWDIL).
