A former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Zamfara State, Sani Shinkafi, has warned party leaders against imposing candidates in the 2027 general elections, emphasizing the need for transparent and credible primaries. In a statement issued in Abuja, Shinkafi urged the party to learn from past mistakes, particularly the crises that affected its performance in the 2019 and 2023 elections.

Shinkafi aligned himself with the resolutions of the APC stakeholders’ meeting held in Talata Mafara on November 1, which opposed the imposition of candidates in future elections. He stressed that all aspirants, regardless of their status in the party, should undergo credible primaries to ensure a popular and widely accepted candidate emerges. This, he believes, is crucial for the party’s victory in Zamfara.

The former governorship candidate also reminded party leaders of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates political parties to conduct primaries monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission. He noted that consensus is only valid when all cleared aspirants give written consent, as stated in Section 84(1) of the Act.

Shinkafi’s warning comes as the Zamfara APC has previously faced internal conflicts over candidate selection, including during the 2019 elections when the Supreme Court nullified its victories due to invalid primaries. Similar disputes affected the party’s performance in 2023, leading to losses in key positions. To prevent a repeat of these internal divisions and electoral losses, Shinkafi advised party stakeholders to work towards reorganizing and strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 polls.

The APC’s internal conflicts have been a significant challenge for the party in Zamfara State, and Shinkafi’s call for transparent and credible primaries is seen as a step towards addressing these issues. As the party prepares for the 2027 general elections, it remains to be seen whether party leaders will heed Shinkafi’s warning and implement reforms to ensure a more democratic and inclusive candidate selection process. The outcome of this process will be crucial in determining the party’s chances of success in the upcoming elections.