The crisis within the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has worsened following the denial by senatorial aspirant, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, that he withdrew from the party’s Zamfara North Senatorial primary election.
Shinkafi, in a letter addressed to the APC National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, dismissed claims that he stepped down for a consensus arrangement ahead of the party’s May 19 senatorial primary.
He insisted that he neither withdrew from the race nor issued any statement, formal or informal, suggesting such a decision.
“I did not withdraw from the senatorial race, I did not write any letter stepping down, and I did not at any time publicly or privately declare my withdrawal from the primary,” he said.
The former aspirant alleged that his exclusion from the exercise was orchestrated by powerful figures within the party structure in the state.
He further claimed that aspirants were informed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed serving senators to be returned unopposed, a development he described as inconsistent with democratic norms.
Shinkafi argued that such an arrangement, if true, contradicts provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing party primaries and consensus processes.
He warned that the party risked reliving its past political setbacks in Zamfara, where internal disputes led to a collapse in electoral fortunes after the 2019 general elections.
The aspirant also alleged that political thugs were mobilised in some parts of the state to disrupt the primary process in favour of what he described as an imposed consensus candidate.
Shinkafi said he had instructed his supporters across Zamfara North not to participate in the affirmation exercise, adding that he would challenge his exclusion through legal means.
He further cautioned that ongoing insecurity, economic hardship and internal divisions within the APC could undermine the party’s chances in the 2027 elections in the state if not urgently addressed.
