A House of Representatives aspirant in Zamfara State, Hassan Dangaladima, has rejected the composition of the election panel set up by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to conduct a fresh primary election for the Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency.
The panel was constituted by the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, following a Court of Appeal judgment that nullified the earlier primary election and ordered a fresh exercise to select the party’s candidate for the constituency.
Petition to Party Leadership
In a petition addressed to the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC), Mr Dangaladima alleged that the national chairman was unfair in selecting members of the panel, arguing that he failed to consult other organs of the party before constituting it. He urged the two organs to review the panel’s composition urgently.
According to the aspirant, the nomination was made unilaterally by the national chairman. He said no meeting of the NWC was convened for that purpose, no quorum of the NWC deliberated upon or resolved on the composition of the committee, and the nomination was never presented to, ratified or approved by the NWC or the NEC as required by the party’s constitution. He added that neither the aspirants nor the Zamfara State chapter nor other relevant stakeholders were consulted.
Allegations of Bias and Conflict of Interest
Mr Dangaladima further alleged that members of the panel were loyalists and supporters of one of his opponents, Aminu Jaji, and argued that their affiliations could compromise the credibility of the exercise.
He said the composition of the committee raised a real and reasonable apprehension of bias, describing its members as known loyalists, supporters or agents of Mr Jaji, which he said placed them in a position of manifest conflict of interest.
Eligibility Question Raised Against Rival
The aspirant also questioned Mr Jaji’s eligibility to contest the primary, alleging that his name was missing from the APC membership register for Birnin Magaji Ward submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said a certified true copy of the register obtained from INEC confirmed the omission, and that a formal demand had been made on the party by letter dated 4 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.
Citing Section 77(5) of the Electoral Act 2026, he argued that only members whose names appear in the register of members are eligible to vote and be voted for in party primaries, congresses and conventions. On that basis, he contended that Mr Jaji is ineligible to contest the court-ordered primary election.
Procedural Objections
Mr Dangaladima also argued that the panel’s composition violated the party’s rules because other aspirants were neither consulted nor given an opportunity to raise objections to the selection of its members.
He said the membership of the committee was never published in advance, aspirants were given no notice of its composition and no opportunity to object to members with conflicts of interest, and no screening or vetting mechanism was applied to secure the impartiality and independence of the committee.
In his view, the manner of the committee’s constitution violates the rules of natural justice, 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 consequently urged the APC NEC and NWC to suspend the fresh primary election and reconstitute the panel to ensure a fair and credible exercise. It is not clear whether a date has been scheduled for the primary election in the constituency.
Party Chairman Denies Allegations
Responding to the allegations, Mr Yilwatda, through his media aide Abimbola Tooki, denied that the panel was constituted unilaterally, insisting that the selection of its members followed the party’s established decision-making procedures.
Mr Tooki said decisions concerning party affairs were not taken by the national chairman without consultation with the NWC, describing the allegation as completely unfounded and unreflective of the APC’s established decision-making process. He said the 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.
He added that it was incorrect to suggest that the national chairman takes unilateral decisions on matters concerning the activities and administration of the party, particularly on issues as important as the conduct of party primaries. According to him, the national chairman does not operate in isolation but works in consultation and collaboration with other members of the NWC, with decisions taken collectively in accordance with the party’s constitution, established procedures and internal mechanisms.
