The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Appeals Committee in Kaduna State has affirmed Shuaibu Idris Mikati as the party's governorship candidate. The committee also ordered fresh and rerun primary elections in several federal and state constituencies after reviewing petitions from the party's recently concluded primaries.
Appeals Committee Decision
Dr. Muhammed Mustapha Fagge, a retired Comptroller of Immigration and Chairman of the Appeals Committee, announced the decisions. He stated that the panel meticulously reviewed petitions, documentary evidence, and submissions from aggrieved aspirants before reaching its verdicts.
Fagge said the committee unanimously upheld Mikati's emergence as the ADC governorship flagbearer after establishing that he secured the highest number of valid votes cast. The committee further noted that evidence presented before it revealed irregularities and fraudulent activities linked to some competing governorship aspirants, strengthening its decision to affirm his victory.
Other Victories Upheld
The committee also upheld the victories of Tukur Salisu Kakeyi in the Zaria Federal Constituency primary and Muhammed Mahmoud Aliyu in Soba Federal Constituency after confirming that both aspirants recorded the highest number of valid votes in their respective contests.
Rerun and Fresh Primaries Ordered
The committee declared several primary elections inconclusive and ordered reruns in constituencies where substantial irregularities, procedural breaches, omitted candidates, or insufficient evidence of voting were established. In the Ikara/Kubau Federal Constituency, the committee directed a rerun after finding that a duly screened aspirant, Ibrahim Danlami Kubau, was omitted from the ballot papers.
Similarly, a completely fresh primary election was ordered for Kaduna South Federal Constituency after investigations revealed no credible evidence that elections were conducted across all wards in the constituency.
Fagge further stated that rerun elections would be conducted in affected wards and constituencies across Kaura, Soba, Ikara, Kajuru, Badarawa/Malali, Magajin Gari II, Birnin Gwari, Tudun Wada West, Igabi, Kagarko, Kawo, Zaria, Chikun/Kajuru and Kudan/Makarfi, among others, to safeguard the credibility and integrity of the party's nomination process.
Kaduna North Senatorial District Ruling
The committee also delivered a significant ruling on the Kaduna North Senatorial District primary, declaring that any attempt to adopt a consensus or affirmation process would be invalid unless it enjoys the consent and agreement of all parties involved.
