High Court Fixes August 31 to Rule on Shinkafi’s Nullification Suit Against APC and INEC

A Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, Zamfara State, has fixed August 31 to deliver judgment in the lawsuit challenging the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary elections in Zamfara North.

The suit was instituted by prominent APC chieftain and senatorial aspirant, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, against the party, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and incumbent lawmaker Senator Sahabi Ya’u.

Trouble began following the conduct of the party’s primary election, which produced Senator Ya’u as the official flagbearer. Dissatisfied with the outcome, Shinkafi approached the court alleging that the exercise was marred by unlawful exclusion, flagrant disregard for the party’s constitution, and violations of the Electoral Act.

The court fixed the verdict date after legal representatives for Shinkafi, the APC, and INEC presented their final arguments and formally adopted their written addresses before the court.

In his final submissions, Shinkafi urged the court to set aside the primary election results, cancel the candidate nomination forwarded to INEC, and direct the APC to conduct a fresh, transparent primary election that accords equal opportunities to all qualified aspirants.

Conversely, defense attorneys for the APC and INEC asked the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety, maintaining that the primary election followed statutory requirements and internal party procedures.

With the court reserving its final ruling for August 31, political stakeholders across Zamfara State are closely monitoring the legal outcome, which could significantly impact party unity and candidate legitimacy ahead of the upcoming legislative contests.