Jamila Abd‑Mani has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Bindawa/Mani Federal Constituency in Katsina State after winning the party’s primary election held on Saturday in Mani Local Government Area. The result, announced by constituency electoral committee chairman Shaif’u Audu‑Duwan, showed Abd‑Mani receiving 24,989 votes while her sole rival, Ahmed Saleh, garnered 1,256 votes from the 22 wards that participated.
The APC in Katsina has largely adopted a consensus‑based approach to selecting candidates, but the party opted for a direct primary in Bindawa/Mani after two aspirants expressed interest, breaking the usual consensus protocol. “We declared Abd‑Mani the APC candidate for the constituency. This shows that the party is united and will work towards success,” Audu‑Duwan said after the collation of results.
In her victory speech, Abd‑Mani thanked the electorate for their support and expressed gratitude to Governor Dikko Radda and the state APC leadership for permitting her participation in the contest. She called on constituents, particularly women, to back her in the forthcoming general election, pledging that, if elected to the House of Representatives, she would draw on her experience to serve the constituency effectively. “By the grace of Almighty Allah, if elected, I will use my experience to represent my constituency,” she affirmed.
The primary outcome also confirmed other APC candidates in the state. Usman Banye was reaffirmed as the consensus candidate for the Charanchi/Rimi/Batagarawa constituency, while incumbent Representative Salisu Majigiri secured the party’s nomination again for the Mashi/Dutsi seat.
Abd‑Mani’s victory marks a notable moment for female political participation in a region where women are under‑represented in elective offices. Her candidacy will add to the growing number of women seeking seats in the National Assembly, reflecting broader efforts within the APC to promote gender inclusivity.
The next step for Abd‑Mani is to campaign for the general election, where she will seek to translate her primary win into a seat in the House of Representatives. Stakeholders will be watching how her candidacy influences voter dynamics in Katsina, especially among women voters, and whether the APC’s internal unity will translate into electoral success at the national level.
