The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara North is again to the place it began.
A court-ordered rerun main held on Monday, November 2, 2026, to resolve the disaster over the social gathering’s senatorial ticket has produced two winners, two outcome sheets, and a contemporary menace of litigation that would as soon as once more price the APC the seat.
The rerun was for Zamfara North Senatorial District — Birnin Magaji, Shinkafi, Kaura Namoda and Zurmi— forward of the January 16, 2027 National Assembly election.
Instead of manufacturing one candidate, it produced two.
The Two Results
The Chairman’s Result — Sahabi Wins
The Chairman of the APC Zamfara North Senatorial District Primary Election Committee, Dr. Auwal Abdullahi Aliyu, declared incumbent Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura winner in Gusau on Monday evening.
According to Aliyu, Sahabi Ya’u Kaura received 49,176 votes, Tijjani Yahaya Kaura — 9,628 votes and Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi 2,602 votes(in an earlier announcement, 6,206 votes was quoted, however the LGA breakdown totals 2,602)
LGA Breakdown for Sahabi:Kaura Namoda — 21,689, Zurmi — 19,017, Shinkafi — 3,815, Birnin Magaji — 4,655
Aliyu stated Sahabi had “satisfied the requirements of the law and the APC primary election guidelines” and described the train as credible and acceptable to all.
The Returning Officer’s Result : Tijjani Wins
Hours later, one other declaration emerged.
Committee member / Returning Officer, Sani Abdullahi, declared former Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura winner.
According to Abdullahi:
Tijjani Yahaya Kaura — 16,758 votes
-Sahabi Ya’u Kaura — 1,465 votes
-Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi — 1,447 votes
He stated 23,257 had been registered, 19,608 accredited, and 19,492 legitimate votes solid.
But even Tijjani’s figures don’t add up. The three aspirants whole 19,670 votes — 178 greater than the 19,492 legitimate votes he introduced, and 62 greater than the 19,608 accredited voters.
Tijjani, talking from his residence in Kaura Namoda, insists his declaration is genuine, that almost all of committee members collated it, and that the Chairman was “hijacked / abducted and taken to an unknown destination” to announce a pretend outcome single-handedly.
The Man Who Went To Court Rejects The Rerun Too
The irony of the rerun is that the person who compelled it has now rejected it.
Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, whose court docket case brought on the rerun, advised journalists in Gusau that the November 2 train was an “orchestrated administrative ambush” and a “fabrication of phantom results.”
His allegations:
No unique outcome sheets, no social gathering registers — solely photocopied sheets delivered to unauthorised venues after members dispersed, No accreditation, no biometric / membership card verification, Venues modified with out discover, conflicting timelines,v Armed actors / irregular safety hijacked centres, gunshots dispersed his supporters, Results collated secretly with out his brokers, copies not given, Exercise performed by unauthorised LG Collation Officers not appointed by the NWC, No consensus with anybody, dismisses hearsay of a take care of Tijjani
He has now petitioned the APC National Working Committee (NWC), demanded speedy nullification, no transmission of any identify to INEC, a contemporary clear main monitored by INEC, and threatened contemporary court docket motion in opposition to Sahabi and Tijjani if ignored.
Recall that this disaster didn’t begin on November 2. It is a repeat of a well-recognized Zamfara story.
May 19, 2026: APC held its first main for Zamfara North. Sahabi was declared winner. Shinkafi rejected it and went to court docket, alleging irregularities and non-compliance with social gathering tips.
August 31, 2026: The Federal High Court, Gusau, in Suit No. FHC/GS/CS/6/2026, nullified the May 19 main and ordered a contemporary main.
October 20, 2026: The Court of Appeal, Sokoto, dismissed Sahabi’s attraction and upheld the nullification. It ordered APC to conduct a contemporary main inside a stipulated interval.
November 2, 2026: APC performed the rerun. It ended with two winners.
Behind the authorized battle is a deeper political conflict that has outlined Zamfara APC for years:
Sahabi Ya’u Kaura is related to the camp of former Governor and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
Tijjani Yahaya Kaura is linked to the camp of former Governor Abdul’aziz Yari, who’s the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
The NWC underneath National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda despatched the committee to Zamfara, however the committee break up into two. As at press time, the social gathering has not issued a definitive clarification on which result’s genuine.
There was additionally violence. Thugs attacked Namoda Model Primary School and Galadima Dangaladima Ward in Kaura Namoda after the council chairman allegedly urged delegates to help Sahabi.
Why It Matters: The Ghost Of 2019
If APC sends the unsuitable identify to INEC, the social gathering dangers dropping Zamfara North once more — identical to it did in 2019.
In 2019, the Supreme Court nullified all APC victories in Zamfara — governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly — as a result of the social gathering did not conduct legitimate primaries. The PDP, which misplaced on the polls, was declared winner throughout the board.
That historical past is why INEC’s subsequent transfer issues. INEC had earlier revealed Sahabi’s identify from the nullified main — a transfer Shinkafi had already faulted. The query now could be: What identify is at present on INEC’s checklist, and can INEC settle for a reputation from a disputed main earlier than the January 16, 2027 election?
When contacted Information Officer Gazzali Abubakar of INEC workplace Zamfara revealed that the incumbent Senator Sahabi Ya’u appealed to the Supreme Court for redress so it’s a court docket matter.
APC Publicity Secretary Zamfara Mallam Ibrahim Mohamed didn’t additionally reply to his calls.
However, an insider with INEC who pleaded anonymity, stated that the matter could be very delicate so no physique will discuss on until APC National Chairman provides directives
What Next:
Shinkafi has given the NWC an ultimatum: nullify the rerun, conduct a contemporary clear main, or face contemporary litigation.
Tijjani insists he’s the genuine winner and can defend his mandate.
Sahabi’s camp insists the Chairman’s declaration is closing and that the social gathering ought to ahead his identify to INEC.
Until the NWC speaks, Zamfara North has two winners, one ticket, and no candidate.
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