Shinkafi Faults INEC Over Publication of Senator Ya’u’s Name, Demands Withdrawal

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

A senatorial aspirant for Zamfara North on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has questioned the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the name of Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u as the APC candidate for the district, despite a Federal High Court judgment which, according to Shinkafi, nullified the party’s senatorial primary.

Shinkafi, in a statement made available to THISDAY in Abuja yesterday, said the publication was inconsistent with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Gusau, which he said set aside the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 19, 2026, and directed the party to conduct a fresh primary for all cleared aspirants.

He, therefore, called on INEC to withdraw Ya’u’s name, arguing that the commission should either await the outcome of the fresh primary directed by the court or the final determination of any appeal arising from the judgment.

The dispute followed a judgment reportedly delivered on August 31, 2026, by Justice Hassan Dikko in Suit No. FHC/GS/CS/6/2026, instituted by Shinkafi against the APC, INEC and Ya’u.

According to the certified judgment referred to by Shinkafi’s lawyers, the court found that the procedure adopted for the May 19 primary did not comply with the applicable requirements and consequently set aside the exercise.

The judgment, as cited by the lawyers, also directed the APC to conduct a fresh primary involving all cleared aspirants within 14 days and directed INEC to accept and publish the name of the candidate who validly emerged from the fresh exercise.

The court was also said to have directed the parties to comply with the principles of internal party democracy, the APC Constitution, relevant party guidelines and applicable provisions of the Electoral Act.

Reacting to the publication of Ya’u’s name, Shinkafi said “It is inappropriate, unfair, unjust and an assault on the nation’s emerging democracy for INEC to flagrantly violate a clear order of a court of competent jurisdiction.”

According to him, publishing the name of a candidate before compliance with the court’s directive or the final determination of the matter on appeal could undermine confidence in the judicial process.

He said INEC, as the electoral commission, had a responsibility to safeguard the credibility of the electoral process, including the nomination procedures adopted by political parties.

Shinkafi further argued that any perceived failure to comply with a court order in a matter to which INEC was a party and represented by counsel could have implications for public confidence in the electoral system.

“Disobeying a court order in a matter which the commission was a party to and fully represented will erode public confidence in the electoral system,” he said.

The aspirant’s position was also conveyed to INEC in a letter dated September 18, 2026, written by YAS Law Firm.

“In light of the subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court, we urge the Commission to immediately withdraw and stay the publication of Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u as the APC candidate, pending the final determination of the matter in the appellate courts or pending the fresh primary election ordered by the court, to preserve the rule of law,” the letter stated.

The lawyers further referred to the court’s reported directive that INEC should accept and publish the name of any candidate who validly emerges from the fresh primary.

Shinkafi had approached the Federal High Court and challenged the process through which Ya’u emerged as the APC’s candidate.