Three All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in Zamfara State have dragged their party to court. They are challenging their recent suspension from the party. The executives were suspended after attending a stakeholders’ meeting. This meeting was organized by the Wamban Shinkafi Democratic Front on November 11.

The suit was filed at the State High Court in Gusau. The plaintiffs are Babangida Aliyu Shinkafi, APC Chairman of Shinkafi South Ward; Kabiru Ibrahim, Welfare Secretary of APC Shinkafi Local Government; and Ibrahim DD Kurya, representative for Persons With Disabilities in Shinkafi Local Government.

They are suing the APC, the Zamfara State APC Chairman, Alhaji Tukur Danfulani Maikatako Gusau, and Alhaji Ibrahim Bama Shinkafi, who chairs the APC in Shinkafi Local Government.

Demands from the Court

The suspended party leaders are asking the court to declare them legitimate APC members. They seek a ruling that any attempt to suspend, expel, intimidate, harass, or terminate their membership is “unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful, null and void.”

According to a statement by Yushau Abdullahi Mada, Chairman of the Wamban Shinkafi Democratic Front, the plaintiffs also seek specific injunctions:

Firstly, a perpetual injunction to stop the defendants or their agents. This would prevent them from taking further steps to suspend, expel, or harass the plaintiffs.

Secondly, an order directing the maintenance of the status quo. This would halt all actions related to their suspension until the court decides the case.

Allegations of Unlawful Suspension

The aggrieved executives stated they were duly elected in the 2022 APC congresses. Their tenures, they maintain, remain valid. They identify as loyal members of Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi’s political camp. Dr. Shinkafi leads the Wamban Shinkafi Democratic Front.

They claim their suspension was orally announced by Ibrahim Bama Shinkafi. He is the Shinkafi Local Government APC chairman. They received no written query, justifiable reason, or opportunity to defend themselves. The executives allege this violates the APC constitution. All internal efforts to halt the suspension failed. This forced them to seek judicial intervention. The suit, filed by Bello Idris Galadi and Associates, is dated November 14, 225 (Editor’s Note: Year likely typo, assuming 2023 or 2024).

Zamfara APC’s Lingering Crisis

Mada noted that the Zamfara APC has been in turmoil. This started after losing the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won both elections. He blames recurring crises on imposed candidates and arbitrary actions. These include suspensions, expulsions, and marginalisation of party leaders.

He added that party stakeholders met on November 1. The meeting took place at Talata Mafara, the home of former governor Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari. Yari is a Zamfara APC leader. Elders, state, local government, and ward executives attended to discuss lingering issues.

Mada highlighted key resolutions from that meeting. Attendees unanimously endorsed Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election. They also resolved against imposing candidates in future elections. The party assured free, fair, and credible congresses and primaries. These would align with the Electoral Act 2022, INEC guidelines, and APC electoral guidelines.

Stakeholders also endorsed a consensus option. This applies when all aspirants voluntarily step down for one candidate. In such cases, delegates would elect the candidate by affirmation.

Wamban Shinkafi Democratic Front’s Position

The Wamban Shinkafi Democratic Front held its own stakeholders’ meeting on November 11. Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi established this group. He is a former APGA national secretary and governorship candidate. Now an APC chieftain, his group has structures across Zamfara’s 14 local governments and 147 wards.

At their meeting, they endorsed Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for 2027. They unanimously adopted Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari as the Zamfara State APC leader. The group also opposed candidate imposition. They argue this led to the party’s defeat in the 2019 and 2023 gubernatorial polls.

The Front champions inclusive politics in Zamfara State. This aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Their goal is to strengthen the party. A divided party cannot win elections, which has been the case for Zamfara APC.

Efforts are ongoing for reconciliation, unity, and membership drive. Yet, some loyal members of Wamban Shinkafi were suspended. These include Sirajo Yusuf Wali, Birnin Yero Ward Publicity Secretary. Also affected were Hon. Babangida Aliyu Shinkafi, Chairman Shinkafi Ward; Kabiru Ibrahim, Welfare Secretary; and Ibrahim DD Kurya, representing People With Disabilities. The Front believes these suspensions were arbitrary and violated the party constitution.

They argue it is unjust to punish party members for attending a duly convened meeting. Such meetings, they stress, aim for the party’s progress.

The purported suspension, they allege, came from the Zamfara State APC Chairman, Tukur Umar Danfulani Maikatako Gusau. He, in turn, was allegedly directed by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle. Matawalle also held a stakeholders’ meeting where Tinubu was adopted as the consensus candidate.

The Front stated their unlawfully suspended members had to approach the court. They view the court as the temple of justice and the last hope for aggrieved persons.

Call for Unity and Due Process

The Wamban Shinkafi Democratic Front remains committed to democracy and the rule of law. They aim for APC’s success in future Zamfara elections. They declared they will not be distracted by detractors or reactionary forces. Such forces, they believe, do not wish well for the party.

For justice to prevail, all parties in the suit should await the court’s decision. The Front urged party faithful to unite. They called for collective work towards a stronger, more vibrant APC and a prosperous Zamfara State.