Northern elders praise APC chairman for peaceful Zamfara primary

The Northern Elders Progressive Group has praised the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda. They recognized his efforts in ensuring a peaceful and credible rerun primary election for the Zamfara North Senatorial District.

The group said the selection of Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura as the APC candidate shows the party’s commitment to fairness and internal democracy.

The rerun primary took place on Monday, November 2. This followed a Court of Appeal decision in Sokoto that backed a Federal High Court ruling. The ruling cancelled the earlier primary election for Zamfara North. The legal action was taken by APC aspirant Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi. He raised concerns about irregularities in the previous primary.

After the rerun, Dr Auwal Abdullahi Aliyu, who is the Chairman of the APC Zamfara North Senatorial District Primary Election Committee, announced that incumbent Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura won. He received 49,176 votes, while Tijjani Yahaya Kaura got 9,628 votes.

On Tuesday, the group’s North-West Executive Secretary, Abbas Sarki, spoke to journalists in Kaduna. He said Yilwatda showed great leadership by letting the committee run the primary without his or the National Working Committee’s interference.

Sarki noted that the chairman’s neutrality, humility, and maturity helped make the election successful.

“Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda has shown that real leadership means creating the right environment for a transparent and credible process. Allowing the electoral committee to carry out its duties without interference is a great example of responsible leadership,” he said.

He also mentioned that the chairman’s commitment to a fair process boosted confidence in the party’s democratic practices.

According to reports from the group’s monitoring team, the primary was held fairly. The electoral committee had the independence needed to achieve a credible result, despite some attempts by individuals to disrupt the process.

The group also praised President Bola Tinubu for his leadership and support for the APC in the North-West. They noted his contributions to security, economic growth, and infrastructure development.

They called on political stakeholders in Zamfara State to promote unity and understanding. They believe that internal harmony is vital for strengthening the party as they prepare for the 2027 general elections.

While congratulating Kaura on becoming the party’s candidate, the group urged other aspirants to set aside their differences and support him.

“Working together for the party’s candidate is key to ensuring victory for the APC in the upcoming general elections,” Sarki added.