Zamfara: All aspirants for 2027 election must face popularity test – Shinkafi insists
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC and former governorship candidate, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi has said that all aspirants for various elective positions in the 2027 general election must face popularity test by contesting credible and valid primaries no matter their status in APC Zamfara State.
Shinkafi said it is to avoid the blunders the party made in the 2019 and 2023 general elections that led to its defeat in its stronghold, mistakes that should not recur in future elections.
He aligned with the resolutions of the APC stakeholders meeting chaired by the former governor of the state, Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari on November 1 2025, at his country home, Talata Mafara, that there shall be no imposition of candidates for the 2027 general election..
Stakeholders of the Zamfara APC had unanimously resolved that the party should not adopt an unpopular candidate for any election no matter his or her status in APC and urged anybody willing to contest an election to come to the state and galvanise support from members of the party and the electorate.
Stakeholders also resolved that the party should conduct valid primaries in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC guidelines, regulations and schedule of activities, and the APC electoral guidelines. Section 84(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 provides, “A political party seeking to nominate candidate for elections under this Act shall hold primaries for aspirants to all elective positions which shall be monitored by the commission.”
Consensus option will only apply if all cleared aspirants voluntarily withdraw in writing and endorse the consensus candidate as provided in Section 84(9 – 10):
Shinkafi urged the party to adhere strictly to its internal democracy, due process, rule of law and tenets of democracy as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Electoral Act 2022 and INEC guidelines.
DAILY POST reports that the Zamfara State APC stakeholders meeting also endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term.
It could be recalled that ahead of the 2019 general election, the party was engulfed in internal wranglings.
During the nomination and submission of candidates to INEC, the party was factionalized including G8 Faction involving eight governorship aspirants – Senator Kabiru Garba Mafara, General Mansur Danali, former Governor Mahmud Al’yu Shinkafi, Mallam Muhammad Ibrahim Wakkala, Abu Magaji, Alhaji Sagir Hamidu, Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji and Dauda Lawal, while Hon. Mukhtar Shehu Idris was the favoured aspirant by then Governor Abdul’aziz Yari.
In the build up to the 2019 general election, APC could not conduct its governorship primaries up to the time for closure of party primaries and submission of candidates to INEC.
The party went ahead to submit the name of Mukhtar Shehu Idris as its governorship candidate. The eight aspirants challenged the imposition of Idris at Zamfara State High Court presided over by Justice Bello Shinkafi who delivered judgement in favour of Mukhtar Shehu Idris. Senator Kabiru Garba Mafara and Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji appealed the judgement at the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division.
While Jaji withdrew his appeal, Kabiru Garba Mafara pursued it to Supreme Court. On 24th May 2019, five days before the swearing in of elected officers, the Supreme Court voided and nullified the elections of APC candidates. The second runners-up were declared winners.
Bello Matawalle, the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate was a beneficiary of the apex court’s judgement against APC.
“It is time to change the narrative, reorganise and reposition the party for future elections. The resolutions of the stakeholders meeting should not be swept under the carpet,” Shinkafi added.
“All aspirants shall test their popularity at various party primaries notwithstanding their status within the APC family.
“It is time to work as a political family and build a better, greater and prosperous Zamfara State future generations will be proud of.”