A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and aspirant for the Zamfara North Senatorial District, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has referred to as on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to instantly withdraw Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u’s identify because the occasion’s senatorial candidate following a Court of Appeal judgement upholding the nullification of the disputed main election.
In a press assertion, Shinkafi condemned INEC’s continued publication of Ya’u because the APC candidate, arguing that the motion disregarded the judgements of the Federal High Court in Gusau and the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division.
The Court of Appeal, in its judgement delivered on October 20, 2026, by Justice Abubakar M. Talba, dismissed Ya’u’s attraction as grossly unmeritorious and affirmed the choice of the Federal High Court in Gusau in Suit No. FHC/GS/CS/6/2026.
According to Shinkafi, the decrease court docket had nullified the purported APC main election for the Zamfara North Senatorial District and ordered the occasion to conduct a recent main involving all aspirants who had been cleared to take part.
He maintained that INEC’s continued recognition of Ya’u because the occasion’s candidate, regardless of the court docket choices, raised severe questions in regards to the fee’s dedication to the rule of legislation and the integrity of the electoral course of.
The APC chieftain stated INEC had been duly served with licensed true copies of the judgements and was a celebration to the authorized proceedings.
He argued that the fee ought to respect the selections of courts of competent jurisdiction, warning that failure to take action might undermine public confidence within the judiciary and the electoral umpire forward of the 2027 common elections.
“As a democratic institution, it is inconceivable that INEC will glaringly violate electoral jurisprudence at this critical stage of the 2027 general election process,” Shinkafi acknowledged.
He urged the fee to make use of the chance to rebuild public belief, uphold electoral integrity and exhibit its dedication to the rule of legislation.
Shinkafi additionally expressed concern that the controversy might have an effect on the APC’s participation within the Zamfara North senatorial contest if the occasion didn’t adjust to the court docket’s directive to conduct a recent main.
He alleged that anti-democratic forces had been working to stop the APC from fielding a candidate within the district, drawing parallels with earlier election disputes wherein court docket choices affected the occasion’s candidates.
In an extra transfer to press his demand, Shinkafi disclosed that he had instructed his lawyer to jot down formally to the INEC chairman over the publication of Ya’u’s identify.
The letter, dated October 27, 2026, and signed by S.Y. Aliyu, Esq., of Yas Law Firm, notified the fee of what the attorneys described because the illegal publication of Ya’u’s identify because the APC candidate in defiance of present court docket judgements.
The attorneys recalled that the Federal High Court in Gusau had put aside the disputed main election and dominated that there was no legitimate candidate arising from the train due to alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act and the occasion’s pointers.
They additional cited the Court of Appeal’s choice affirming the decrease court docket’s judgement and directing the APC to conduct a recent main involving all cleared aspirants.
The authorized representatives urged INEC to withdraw the publication of Ya’u’s identify pending the recent main ordered by the court docket or additional dedication of the matter by the Supreme Court.
They argued that recognising a candidate earlier than compliance with the court-ordered course of would undermine due course of and electoral jurisprudence.
Shinkafi stated the letter had been submitted to and acknowledged by the fee.
Reaffirming his place, Shinkafi stated he would proceed to help democratic governance and the strengthening of consultant establishments in Nigeria.
“Let it be clear: this injustice shall not stand,” he declared, describing his intervention as a part of his dedication to democracy, his occasion and the nation.
The dispute has positioned the APC’s Zamfara North senatorial candidacy beneath renewed authorized scrutiny as preparations for the 2027 common elections proceed.
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