Zamfara North: APC chieftain alleges navy interference in senatorial main

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and aspirant for the Zamfara North Senatorial District seat, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has petitioned the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, Rtd, over the alleged involvement of serving navy officers within the get together’s senatorial main election held on November 2, 2026.

He alleged that the personnel acted as if they have been members of the APC Primary Election Committee, working with political actors to control 42 ward end result sheets and the senatorial district end result sheet throughout Shinkafi, Zurmi, Kaura Namoda and Birnin Magaji Local Government Areas.

Shinkafi additional claimed that the navy officers weren’t listed within the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police’s Operation Order No. 29/DOPS/2026, which outlined safety preparations for the rerun main election in Zamfara North Senatorial District.

Despite their alleged absence from the safety operation order, the APC aspirant accused the officers of mobilising navy personnel, armoured autos and gun vans to disrupt the train, intimidate get together members and affect the end result of the first.

He additionally alleged that the navy personnel labored in collaboration with the first election committee led by Dr Awwal Abdullahi Aliyu, describing the train as fraudulent and claiming that end result sheets have been manufactured regardless of the alleged absence of official voting supplies at designated centres.

In the petition, Shinkafi’s lawyer argued that the alleged actions amounted to skilled misconduct, legal conspiracy, forgery, participation in partisan politics and a violation of the Armed Forces Act and different related legal guidelines.

The petition cited Section 217 of the 1999 Constitution, which establishes the Armed Forces as a nationwide defence establishment, alongside Sections 56 and 91 of the Armed Forces Act, which deal with disobedience to standing orders and conduct prejudicial to navy self-discipline.

It additionally referenced Sections 114 and 136 of the Armed Forces Act regarding civil offences dedicated by navy personnel, in addition to provisions regarding assault and the Armed Forces Terms and Conditions of Service.

Consequently, Shinkafi referred to as on the Defence Minister and the Chief of Defence Staff to order an instantaneous investigation by the Military Police and the Defence Intelligence Agency into the alleged involvement of navy personnel within the November 2 train.

He additional demanded that the personnel be recalled and interdicted from lively obligation pending the end result of the investigation, whereas urging the navy authorities to convene a court-martial if the allegations are established.

To assist the allegations, the petition reportedly included copies of the disputed ward end result sheets, the senatorial district end result sheet, video and photographic proof, in addition to the police operation order for the rerun main.

The lawyer additionally offered 14 hyperlinks to movies and different supplies stated to point out the alleged participation of the navy personnel within the train.

The petition, dated November 9, 2026, was submitted and acknowledged on November 10. Copies have been additionally forwarded to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff for his or her consideration.

Shinkafi maintained that the alleged interference undermined the integrity of the APC’s inside electoral course of and insisted that the get together’s members in Zamfara North will need to have their mandate revered.

He additionally referred to as for accountability, arguing that navy personnel should stay politically impartial and shouldn’t use their positions or entry to safety sources to affect get together elections. He urged the authorities to take acceptable disciplinary motion towards anybody discovered culpable.