Yahaya Tijjani Kaura, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara state, has secured the party's ticket for the Zamfara North senatorial district. He emerged victorious in a primary election held on Monday in Gusau, polling 16,758 votes to defeat his closest rival, Sahabi Yari Alhaji, who garnered 1,465 votes. This decisive win marks a significant milestone in Kaura's bid for the National Assembly seat.
The primary election was a rerun, necessitated by a Court of Appeal ruling in Sokoto, which nullified the previous APC primary election for Zamfara North Senatorial District. The court cited gross non-compliance with party guidelines and the Electoral Act. Justice Tunde Oyebamiji Awotoye delivered the ruling, upholding an earlier decision by the Federal High Court in Gusau, which had voided the primary election in August 2026.
The court expressed concerns about the credibility of the initial primary election, noting that a senatorial district with 26,000 registered party members could not have returned 70,000 votes for an aspirant. This observation underscored the need for a fresh and transparent primary election, which was subsequently conducted. Alhaji Sani Abdullahi, the Returning Officer for the APC Senatorial Primary Election Committee, oversaw the process and declared Kaura as the winner.
Kaura's victory was by a commanding margin of 15,293 votes over his closest rival, Sahabi Yari Alhaji. Another aspirant, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, scored 1,447 votes. The APC's national leadership has formally recognized Kaura as the party's senatorial candidate for Zamfara North, following the declaration of results by the Returning Officer.
The development sets the stage for the National Assembly elections, scheduled to hold simultaneously with the presidential election in January. Kaura's emergence as the APC candidate is expected to galvanize support for the party in Zamfara North. His campaign will focus on addressing the concerns of constituents and articulating a vision for the senatorial district.
The APC's primary election process in Zamfara North has been marked by controversy and litigation. However, with the Court of Appeal's ruling and the subsequent primary election, the party has ensured that its internal democracy is upheld. Kaura's victory demonstrates his appeal to party members and sets him up for a potentially competitive National Assembly election.
As Kaura prepares for the National Assembly election, he will face stiff competition from other parties. Nevertheless, his APC ticket and the party's national support provide a strong foundation for his campaign. The people of Zamfara North will now have the opportunity to elect their representative in the National Assembly.
Key points
- - Kaura won the APC senatorial ticket with 16,758 votes. - The primary election was a rerun, necessitated by a Court of Appeal ruling. - Kaura's victory margin was 15,293 votes over his closest rival.
