The Northern Elders Progressive Group has commended the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, for ensuring a peaceful and credible rerun primary election for the Zamfara North Senatorial District.
The group described the emergence of Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura as the APC candidate as a demonstration of the party leadership’s commitment to internal democracy, fairness and transparency.
The fresh primary was conducted on Monday, November 2, after the Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto upheld a Federal High Court judgment nullifying the APC’s earlier primary for Zamfara North. The legal challenge was instituted by APC aspirant Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, who contested the conduct of the previous exercise over alleged irregularities.
Following the rerun, the Chairman of the APC Zamfara North Senatorial District Primary Election Committee, Dr Auwal Abdullahi Aliyu, declared incumbent Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura the winner, announcing that he polled 49,176 votes, against 9,628 for Tijjani Yahaya Kaura.
Speaking with journalists in Kaduna on Tuesday, the group’s North-West Executive Secretary, Abbas Sarki, said Yilwatda had demonstrated exemplary leadership by allowing the committee responsible for conducting the primary to operate independently, without interference from him or members of the party’s National Working Committee.
Sarki said the national chairman’s neutrality, humility and maturity contributed significantly to the successful conduct of the exercise.
“Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda has demonstrated that true leadership is about creating an enabling environment for a transparent and credible process. His decision to allow the electoral committee to discharge its responsibilities without interference is an excellent example of responsible party leadership,” he said.
He added that the chairman’s determination to ensure a fair process through to its conclusion had reinforced confidence in the party’s democratic structures.
According to him, reports received by the group’s monitoring team indicated that the exercise was conducted fairly, with the electoral committee enjoying the independence required to deliver a credible outcome, despite alleged attempts by some individuals to undermine the process.
The group also commended President Bola Tinubu for his leadership and support for the APC in the North-West, particularly in the areas of security, economic growth and infrastructure development.
It urged political stakeholders in Zamfara State to embrace unity, cohesion and mutual understanding, saying internal harmony would be critical to strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While congratulating Kaura on his emergence as the party’s candidate, the group called on other aspirants to put aside their differences and support him.
“Collective support for the party’s candidate will be essential to securing victory for the APC in the forthcoming general elections,” Sarki added.
