Party In Crisis: Three Zamfara APC Executives Drag Party To Court Over November 11 Suspension

Three leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State have approached the State High Court in Gusau to challenge their suspension following their participation in a stakeholders’ meeting of the Wamban Shinkafi Democratic Front on November 11.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The plaintiffs—Babangida Aliyu Shinkafi (APC Chairman, Shinkafi South Ward), Kabiru Ibrahim (Welfare Secretary, Shinkafi Local Government), and Ibrahim DD Kurya (representative of Persons With Disabilities, Shinkafi Local Government)—filed the suit against the APC, the Zamfara State APC Chairman, Alhaji Tukur Danfulani Maikatako Gusau, and the Shinkafi Local Government APC Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Bama Shinkafi.

They are seeking a court declaration affirming their status as bona fide members of the APC, and a ruling that any attempt to suspend, expel, intimidate, harass, or terminate their membership is “unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.”

The plaintiffs also requested:

• A perpetual injunction restraining the defendants or their agents from taking further steps to suspend, expel, or harass them.

• An order maintaining the status quo, halting all actions related to their suspension pending the determination of the case.

According to the statement by Yushau Abdullahi Mada, Chairman of the Wamban Shinkafi Democratic Front, the suspended executives were duly elected during APC congresses in 2022, and their tenures remain valid. They described themselves as loyal followers of Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, leader of the Wamban Shinkafi Democratic Front.

The executives alleged that their suspension was verbally imposed by the Shinkafi Local Government APC chairman, without any written notice, justifiable reason, or opportunity to defend themselves, in violation of the APC constitution. Internal attempts to reverse the suspension failed, prompting the move to seek judicial redress. The suit, filed by Bello Idris Galadi and Associates, is dated November 14, 2025.

Mada highlighted that the Zamfara APC has faced recurring crises since losing the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections to the PDP, attributing the instability to imposed candidates, arbitrary suspensions, expulsions, and marginalization of party leaders.

He noted that stakeholders convened on November 1 at Talata Mafara, the country home of former governor and APC leader Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, to address lingering party issues. The meeting, which included state, local government, and ward executives, endorsed Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the consensus APC presidential candidate for 2027 and resolved against imposing candidates in future elections.

The November 11 stakeholders meeting of the Wamban Shinkafi Democratic Front endorsed Tinubu as the consensus candidate, reaffirmed Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari as the APC leader in Zamfara, and opposed imposed candidates, which had contributed to previous election defeats.

Mada emphasized that arbitrary suspensions of party members loyal to Wamban Shinkafi—including Babangida Aliyu Shinkafi, Kabiru Ibrahim, and Ibrahim DD Kurya—were unjust and unlawful. He alleged the directive came from the Zamfara State APC chairman under influence from the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

He called on all parties to stay action and allow the court to determine the matter, urging party members to unite and strengthen the APC in Zamfara State while upholding democracy, due process, and the rule of law.