A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has formally declared his intention to contest the Zamfara North Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections after picking up his expression of interest and nomination forms.
The forms were obtained on April 30 at the Abuja Continental Hotel, one of the designated venues for the sale of nomination forms to aspirants seeking elective offices under the ruling party.
Shinkafi’s decision to enter the senatorial race follows what his supporters described as mounting pressure from stakeholders and residents of Zamfara North Senatorial District, who are seeking what they termed ‘bold and progressive representation’ at the National Assembly.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Legal Matters, Barrister Yazid Salihu Aliyu, the APC stalwart said his decision was driven by the need to address longstanding concerns about representation in the district.
According to the statement, Zamfara North has, since the return to democratic rule in 1999, lacked ‘effective, efficient and purposeful representation’ in the Senate, a situation the campaign believes has limited the district’s access to the dividends of democracy.
The statement further raised concerns over what it described as an imbalance in the zoning of the senatorial seat within the district, noting that the position has remained concentrated in a particular area, thereby excluding other local government areas from producing a senator.
‘The indigenes of Zamfara North are demanding that the senatorial seat be zoned to Shinkafi Local Government Area in the interest of justice, fairness, equity and inclusivity,’ the statement said.
It added that such an arrangement would promote unity, peace, and development across the district, which it claimed had experienced years of marginalisation.
Shinkafi, who previously contested for the governorship of Zamfara State, said he accepted the call to run for the Senate in order to contribute to lawmaking and facilitate development projects that would directly benefit his constituency.
He also pledged to focus on addressing security challenges in the region, including armed banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping and the displacement of communities.
The APC chieftain said his legislative agenda would align with efforts to improve governance and bring relief to residents affected by years of insecurity.
Shinkafi, who served as Patron of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council in 2023, expressed confidence in the APC’s electoral strength in Zamfara State, describing it as a stronghold of the ruling party.
He said the party was well-positioned to win all elective positions in the state in 2027, including delivering victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as it did in the 2023 presidential election.
A seasoned politician, Shinkafi has held several positions across party structures and political campaigns. He is a former national secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and also served as secretary of the party’s Board of Trustees.
He was deputy chairman of the Matawalle Governorship Campaign Council in 2023 and currently serves as executive secretary of Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development.
His supporters say his experience in both national and state politics positions him to provide effective representation for Zamfara North and to attract development projects in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
They also described him as a grassroots politician with a track record of advocacy for marginalised communities in the state.
‘As a voice for the voiceless, he has consistently championed the cause of the people and deserves a seat in the Senate for inclusive governance,’ the statement added.
With the 2027 elections still months away, political activities across the state are gradually intensifying, with aspirants positioning themselves for what is expected to be a competitive contest for legislative seats.