It is unfortunate that Governor Dr. Dauda Lawal and his associates, in what appears to be a calculated move to edge out one of the most popular and formidable aspirants in the contest, failed to conduct a transparent and credible screening process. Rather than follow due process, they resorted to immature and hasty actions aimed solely at favouring the incumbent Senator, Iqra Aliyu Bilbis.
The most surprising aspect of this entire episode is that, while the screening committee claimed that the aspirant’s nominators failed to pay their party dues, they deliberately ignored the official receipt issued by the party confirming payment of the said dues. Available records clearly indicate that dues for 120 party members were duly paid on 5th May, 2026, in the sum of ₦288,000, long before the purchase of nomination and interest forms. Copies of the receipts issued by the party are available as evidence.
This raises serious questions about the credibility, transparency, and sincerity of the screening exercise. It further strengthens public suspicion that the process was manipulated from the beginning to produce a predetermined outcome.
Another disturbing development was the late publication of the screening results. The results were released online only a few hours before the scheduled primary election, thereby denying aspirants adequate time to respond or seek redress. Such actions clearly undermine the principles of fairness, internal democracy, transparency, and due process within the party.
If Honourable Aliyu Abubakar Tsafe (MC) and other aggrieved aspirants decide to challenge this injustice in court, the APC risks repeating the painful political disaster of 2019 in Zamfara State, when competent courts ruled that valid primaries were not conducted, leading to the loss of all APC electoral victories in the state and ultimately paving the way for the emergence of the Bello Matawalle administration.
The party leadership must therefore act wisely and urgently to correct these irregularities before history repeats itself. Political arrogance, injustice, and manipulation have never strengthened any political party; rather, they weaken its credibility and electoral chances.
A word is enough for the wise.
~ Salis Muhammad Moriki
