The crisis within the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has deepened as Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura rejected the declaration of Senator Sahabi Ya'u Kaura as the winner of the Zamfara North Senatorial District primary election. In a press conference at his country home in Kaura Namoda, Senator Kaura stated that his emergence as the winner of the primary election was authentic and conducted by the majority of members of the election panel sent by the APC National Headquarters.
Senator Kaura alleged that the Chairman of the Panel, Dr. Auwal Abdullahi Aliyu, was hijacked by some anti-democratic elements and taken to an unknown destination. According to him, the Panel Chairman was abducted and he single-handedly announced a purported result declaring Senator Sahabi Ya'u Kaura as winner, while the majority of the panel members jointly collated the authentic results and officially declared him (Tijjani Yahaya Kaura) as the winner.
Senator Kaura described the alleged abduction of the Panel Chairman as an attempt to truncate democracy, which the electorate would never succumb to. He dismissed claims by his opponents over the purported declaration of Ya'u as winner, saying such an act is null, void and of no effect. Senator Kaura emphasized that the declaration made by a single individual who was abducted and isolated cannot stand.
The Senator stated that the authentic result was collated and announced by the majority of the panel members who conducted the election in accordance with the party constitution and electoral guidelines. He said APC members in Zamfara North turned out en-masse to exercise their civic rights by electing him as their Senatorial candidate for the 2027 general election.
Senator Kaura therefore called on stakeholders at all levels to respect the will of the electorate in the senatorial district and the announcement made by the majority members of the primary election committee. He urged his supporters to remain law-abiding and peaceful, assuring that he will defend their mandate through all legitimate means.
The development has further heightened tensions within the Zamfara State APC chapter, with many stakeholders and party members eagerly waiting for the outcome of the crisis. The party's national leadership has yet to comment on the situation, but it is expected that they will soon intervene to resolve the crisis and ensure a smooth transition.
The crisis has also raised concerns about the stability of the APC in Zamfara State, ahead of the 2027 general election. The party's ability to present a united front and field a credible candidate for the senatorial election remains uncertain, as the crisis continues to unfold.
Key points
- Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura rejects Senator Sahabi Ya'u Kaura's victory in Zamfara North Senatorial District primary election
- Kaura alleges that the Panel Chairman was hijacked and taken to an unknown destination
- The crisis has heightened tensions within the Zamfara State APC chapter
