Shinkafi Demands INEC Withdraw Ya’u’s Name As APC Zamfara North Senatorial Candidate

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 right away 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 enchantment 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 contemporary 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 concerning the fee’s dedication to the rule of legislation and the integrity of the electoral course of.

The APC chieftain mentioned 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 may undermine public confidence within the judiciary and the electoral umpire forward of the 2027 normal 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 reveal its dedication to the rule of legislation.

Shinkafi additionally expressed concern that the controversy may 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 contemporary main.

He alleged that anti-democratic forces had been working to forestall the APC from fielding a candidate within the district, drawing parallels with earlier election disputes during which court docket choices affected the occasion’s candidates.

In an additional 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 legal professionals described because the illegal publication of Ya’u’s identify because the APC candidate in defiance of current court docket judgements.

The legal professionals 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 tips.

They additional cited the Court of Appeal’s determination affirming the decrease court docket’s judgement and directing the APC to conduct a contemporary main involving all cleared aspirants.

The authorized representatives urged INEC to withdraw the publication of Ya’u’s identify pending the contemporary 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 mentioned the letter had been submitted to and acknowledged by the fee.

Reaffirming his place, Shinkafi mentioned 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 below renewed authorized scrutiny as preparations for the 2027 normal elections proceed.