Reps hopeful criticizes APC's election panel for fresh primary

Hassan Dangaladima, a House of Representatives hopeful for the Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, has criticized the election panel set up by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for a new primary election in the constituency.

The APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, formed this panel after the Court of Appeal canceled the previous primary election result and ordered a fresh election to choose the party’s candidate for the constituency.

Mr Dangaladima claimed the APC national chairman was unfair in choosing the panel members, saying he did not consult other party leaders before making the decision.

He stated his concerns in a petition sent to the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC), asking them to quickly review the panel's setup.

"The said nomination was made unilaterally by the national chairman: no meeting of the National Working Committee was convened for that purpose; no quorum of the NWC deliberated upon or resolved on the composition of the committee; the nomination was never presented to, ratified or approved by the NWC or the NEC as required by the party’s Constitution; and neither the aspirants nor the Zamfara State Chapter nor other relevant stakeholders were consulted," he said.

The aspirant further claimed that the panel’s members were loyal to one of his opponents, Aminu Jaji, saying that this could affect the fairness of the election.

"The composition of the committee as announced raises a real and reasonable apprehension of bias: members of the committee are known loyalists, supporters and/or agents of a particular aspirant in the contest, namely Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, thereby placing them in a position of manifest conflict of interest," he said.

Mr Dangaladima also questioned Mr Jaji’s right to run in the primary, alleging that his name was not on the APC membership list for Birnin Magaji Ward that was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

"Further and on a related note, the very aspirant the impugned committee is designed to favour, Honourable Aminu Sani Jaji, is not a registered member of the Party: his name is not contained in the Register of Members of the All Progressives Congress for Birnin Magaji Ward submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as confirmed by the Certified True Copy of the said Register obtained from INEC (Exhibit A).

"A formal demand to that effect was made on the Party by letter dated 4th November, 2026 from Trinity Chambers (D.C. Enwelum, SAN), Solicitors in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1060/2026, Hon. Hassan Umar v. Aminu Sani Jaji & 4 Ors. (Exhibit B). By Section 77(5) of the Electoral Act 2026, only members whose names are contained in the register of members shall be eligible to vote and be voted for in party primaries, congresses and conventions; the said aspirant is therefore ineligible to contest the court-ordered primary election."

The aspirant also said the panel's makeup broke the party’s rules because other candidates were not consulted or allowed to object to the selection of its members.

"The membership of the committee was never published in advance; aspirants were afforded no notice of its composition and no opportunity to object to members with conflicts of interest; and no screening or vetting mechanism whatsoever was applied to secure the impartiality and independence of the committee.

"The manner of the committee’s constitution violates the rules of natural justice (audi alteram partem and nemo judex in causa sua), the principle of internal democracy enshrined in the Party’s Constitution, the Party’s guidelines for the conduct of primaries, and the Electoral Act, particularly the requirement of transparent, credible and INEC-monitored primaries," he said.

Mr Dangaladima then called on the APC NEC and NWC to pause the new primary election and reorganize the panel to ensure a fair and credible process.

It is unclear whether a date for the primary election for the constituency has been set.

In response to the claims, Mr Yilwatda, through his media aide, Abimbola Tooki, denied that the panel was formed without proper procedure, saying the selection of its members followed the party’s rules.

Mr Tooki stated that decisions about party matters are not made solely by the national chairman without involving the NWC.

"The allegation is completely unfounded and does not reflect the established decision-making process of the All Progressives Congress. The National Working Committee (NWC) has always operated as a collective decision-making body, with members working together, deliberating on issues and taking decisions in the overall interest of the party.

"It is therefore incorrect to suggest that the National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, takes unilateral decisions on matters concerning the activities and administration of the party, particularly on issues as important as the conduct of party primaries.

"The national chairman does not operate in isolation. He works in consultation and collaboration with other members of the NWC, and decisions are taken collectively in accordance with the party’s constitution, established procedures and internal mechanisms," he said.