2027: Appeal Court Reserves Judgment on Disputed Zamfara North APC Primary

The Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto has reserved judgment in an appeal challenging the outcome of the All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial primary election for Zamfara North.

The appeal was filed by Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura following an earlier judgment of the Federal High Court in Gusau, which nullified the APC primary and ordered the party to conduct a fresh exercise.

Counsel to the first respondent, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, Bello Galadi, disclosed this after the proceedings.

The case came up for the adoption of written briefs by the parties. Galadi said the respondents had filed their reply to the appellant’s brief within the period stipulated by the rules of the court, while the appellants subsequently filed a reply on points of law.

He said he adopted the respondent’s brief on behalf of Shinkafi, after which the appellate court adjourned the matter for judgment.

However, the court did not fix a date for the judgment, with the parties expected to be notified when the court is ready to deliver its decision.

Shinkafi, who is challenging the disputed primary, expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would uphold the decision of the Federal High Court.

The lower court had nullified the primary over alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act and APC guidelines governing the conduct of party primaries.

The legal dispute concerns the APC senatorial primary conducted for Zamfara North on May 19, 2026, with the outcome of the appeal expected to determine the status of the disputed exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.