Court Rejects Kaura’s Challenge to Zamfara North APC Primary Ruling

By Babangida Abdullahi, Gusau

The Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto has dismissed an appeal by Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura challenging a Federal High Court judgment over the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election for Zamfara North.

The appellate court upheld the decision of the Federal High Court in Gusau in a suit filed by Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, an APC senatorial aspirant, over alleged irregularities in the party’s primary election.

Counsel to Shinkafi, Bello Galadi, disclosed this while speaking with journalists after the judgment, saying the court resolved the issues raised by Kaura and dismissed the appeal for lack of merit.

Galadi said Kaura had challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to entertain the suit, but the Court of Appeal upheld the lower court’s authority to hear and determine the matter.

He added that the appellate court rejected the argument that the lower court had improperly shifted the burden of proof to the appellant.

According to him, the evidence presented before the lower court established non-compliance with the APC’s rules and guidelines for the primary election.

The lawyer described the ruling as a victory for democracy and the rule of law, saying it reinforced the principle that no individual was above the law.

“The judgment has vindicated my client’s decision to pursue the case and sent a strong message to those who consider themselves above the law,” he said.

Shinkafi had approached the Federal High Court in Gusau, alleging that the APC did not conduct the senatorial primary in Zamfara North in accordance with its guidelines.

The lower court ruled in his favour and ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary within 14 days.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, Kaura approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the decision.

Reacting to the appellate court’s ruling, Shinkafi described it as a victory for democracy and urged his supporters in Shinkafi, Birnin Magaji, Zurmi and Kaura Namoda local government areas to continue advocating for what he called equitable political representation.

The dispute concerns the APC’s process for selecting its senatorial candidate for Zamfara North ahead of the forthcoming elections.