Ismaeel Aleem
A former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Zamfara State, Sani Shinkafi, has urged party leaders to refrain from imposing candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that such practices risk repeating the debacles of 2019 and 2023.
In a statement released in Abuja yesterday, Shinkafi called for transparent, credible primaries to restore internal cohesion and electoral viability.
He endorsed the resolutions from the APC stakeholders’ meeting in Talata Mafara on 1 November, chaired by ex-governor Abdul’aziz Yari, which unequivocally rejected candidate imposition.
Shinkafi insisted that every aspirant, irrespective of rank or influence, must contest in open primaries monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Only a popular and widely accepted candidate can secure victory for APC in Zamfara,” he asserted, emphasising grassroots legitimacy as the antidote to factionalism.
Citing Section 84(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, Shinkafi reminded leaders that consensus arrangements are lawful solely with the explicit, written consent of all cleared aspirants. Any deviation, he cautioned, invites legal challenges and voter disillusionment.
The APC’s history in Zamfara remains scarred by flawed candidate selection. In 2019, the Supreme Court voided the party’s statewide victories over irregular primaries, handing power to the opposition. Echoes of similar disputes in 2023 contributed to significant losses, including the governorship and multiple legislative seats.
Shinkafi urged stakeholders to treat these setbacks as pivotal lessons, prioritising reconciliation, structural reforms, and inclusive processes to fortify the party. “We must reorganise and strengthen APC to avert internal divisions and electoral defeats,” he stressed.
