Auwalu Lawan Daura, the sole challenger to Yusuf Buhari for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket in the Daura‑Sandamu‑Mai’adua federal constituency of Katsina State, has publicly questioned the conduct of the party’s ongoing primaries.
Daura, who has opposed the adoption of Yusuf Buhari – the son of former President Muhammadu Buhari – as the consensus candidate, said the direct primary process did not adhere to APC guidelines and raised doubts about the credibility of the voting and counting procedures.
“The exercise was marred by irregularities,” Daura told reporters. “Evidence of injustice is everywhere. The manner in which votes were counted was highly dubious, and many of those recorded did not even possess party membership cards.”
He added that his participation in the primary was motivated by a desire to safeguard fairness for party members. “When I launched this political movement, I emphasized that it must reflect the will of the people. After a consensus candidate was announced, grassroots members rejected that decision and demanded a primary. My insistence on contesting the seat is not a sign of disrespect; it is a demonstration of our commitment to justice and fairness.”
Daura’s statements come as the APC conducts direct primaries across the state, a process that has attracted scrutiny from several candidates and observers who allege deviations from established party protocols. The controversy highlights internal tensions within the APC as it seeks to finalize its slate of candidates ahead of the upcoming general election.
Party officials have not yet responded to Daura’s specific allegations, but the APC’s national secretariat has previously indicated that any breaches of its electoral guidelines will be investigated.
The dispute underscores the broader challenge for the APC to balance consensus-building with inclusive, transparent selection mechanisms, a factor that could influence voter confidence ahead of the national polls.
The primaries are expected to conclude in the coming weeks, after which the APC will submit its final list of candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission. Stakeholders will be watching closely to see whether the party’s internal grievances are resolved before the election campaign intensifies.
