An aspirant for the Zamfara North Senatorial District ticket under the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has written to APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda to protest what he calls the imposition of Senator Sahabi Alhaji Yau as the sole candidate and his own exclusion from the primary election.
In a letter signed and released to journalists, Dr. Shinkafi accused Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle, former Governor Senator Ahmed Rufai Sani, Alhaji Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi, and Governor Dauda Lawal of orchestrating a process that violates the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and the APC constitution.
Shinkafi alleged that on Monday, 18th May 2026, Matawalle “murdered democracy” in Zamfara State by declaring that all Senate aspirants must step down for serving senators ahead of the primaries set for Tuesday, 19th May 2026.
He said the directive was issued when Matawalle arrived at Gusau International Airport alongside past and serving governors, claiming it came directly from President Bola Tinubu. According to Shinkafi, there was no prior meeting or consultation with other aspirants before the announcement.
The aspirant argued that the move contradicted President Tinubu’s public position that the APC would uphold democratic principles and the rule of law in selecting candidates, and would not impose candidates arbitrarily.
Shinkafi also referenced Prof. Yilwatda’s earlier remarks that the party would hold direct primaries where consensus arrangements fail, in order to avoid imposing unpopular candidates before the general election.
Citing Sections 84 to 87 of the Electoral Act 2026, he maintained that political parties are required to conduct primaries for all elective positions, either through direct primaries or consensus supported by the written consent of all cleared aspirants.
He stressed that where consensus cannot be reached, the law requires a return to direct primaries, followed by a ratification convention at the appropriate level.
Shinkafi stated that he was never consulted, never withdrew from the contest, and never submitted a letter stepping down or publicly endorsing the so-called consensus arrangement.
He warned that the current economic hardship and insecurity in Zamfara, combined with what he described as the “undemocratic attitude” of Matawalle and his allies, could undermine the APC’s chances in the 2026 general election.
The aspirant drew a parallel with the 2019 Zamfara crisis, when the Supreme Court nullified all APC victories in the state after internal disputes over candidate imposition led the courts to rule that no valid primaries had been held.
He recalled that the party lost the governorship and all legislative seats after the apex court directed INEC to issue certificates of return to the runners-up.
Shinkafi characterized the current move as “political banditry” and named Matawalle as the arrowhead of the assault on internal democracy within the APC in Zamfara.
He said he had directed his supporters in Zamfara North Senatorial District not to take part in what he called the “illegal affirmation” of the anointed candidate, citing the mobilization of political thugs to disrupt the process.
The aspirant declared that he would challenge his exclusion in court, insisting he would not participate in any electoral process that does not comply with the law.
Dr. Shinkafi appealed to the APC national leadership to intervene immediately to prevent a repeat of the 2019 outcome and to restore confidence in the party’s democratic processes in Zamfara State.
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