Hassan Dangaladima, a candidate seeking the All Progressives Congress ticket for the Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency in Zamfara State, has formally challenged the composition of the election panel tasked with conducting a fresh primary. According to Premium Times, Dangaladima submitted a petition to the party’s National Executive Committee and National Working Committee, arguing that the panel’s formation violated internal party rules and the Electoral Act 2026. The panel was established by APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda following a Court of Appeal order that nullified the previous primary results and mandated a new selection exercise.
Dangaladima’s petition asserts that the national chairman acted unilaterally in appointing the panel members. He claimed that no meeting of the National Working Committee was convened to deliberate on the selection, nor was the appointment ratified by the National Working Committee or the National Executive Committee as required by the party constitution. The aspirant further alleged that the selected members were loyalists of his opponent, Aminu Jaji, creating a conflict of interest that compromised the integrity of the upcoming election. He argued that this arrangement violated the principles of natural justice and the party’s guidelines for transparent primaries.
In addition to challenging the panel’s composition, Dangaladima questioned Jaji’s eligibility to contest. He cited a Certified True Copy of the APC membership register for Birnin Magaji Ward, which he obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission, showing that Jaji’s name was absent from the list. The aspirant referenced a legal suit filed by another candidate, Hon. Hassan Umar, against Jaji, arguing that Section 77(5) of the Electoral Act 2026 restricts participation in primaries to registered members only. Consequently, Dangaladima urged the party leadership to suspend the fresh primary and reconstitute the panel to ensure a credible exercise.
In response to these allegations, Yilwatda’s media aide, Abimbola Tooki, denied that the chairman acted alone. Tooki stated that the selection process adhered to established decision-making procedures and that the National Working Committee operates as a collective body. He insisted that the national chairman does not make unilateral decisions on party affairs and that all actions are taken in consultation with other members in accordance with the party constitution. Premium Times reported that it remains unclear whether a date has been scheduled for the fresh primary election in the constituency.