A major controversy has erupted within the Kano chapter of the All Progressives Congress following the failure of officials to conduct the scheduled direct primaries for the Kano Central Senatorial District on Monday, despite nationwide exercises proceeding in several other states.
The development has triggered fresh allegations of imposition, selective enforcement of party guidelines, and attempts to undermine internal democracy within the party structure in Kano.
According to the official timetable earlier released by APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, senatorial primaries were scheduled for Monday, May 18, 2026.
The exercise was expected to be conducted through direct primaries in line with recent directives aimed at strengthening transparency and reducing internal disaffection within the party.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had also, on May 14, 2026, directed APC states nationwide to conduct direct primaries for elective positions except where all aspirants unanimously agree on a consensus candidate.
However, as of the time of filing this report, no primary election had taken place in Kano Central.
Leading APC senatorial aspirant Dr. Mohammed Musa Zango, Founder of the Fatah Zango Foundation, alongside hundreds of supporters and registered APC members, reportedly waited from as early as 9am at designated locations expecting accreditation and voting to commence.
Party members clutching APC membership cards reportedly defied the scorching Kano heat from about 8:30am until nearly 3pm while waiting for APC officials to arrive at various ward and local government secretariats across Kano Central Senatorial District.
Witnesses said party faithful remained on the field for several hours before eventually dispersing after officials failed to appear or communicate any formal postponement.
Multiple videos circulating among party supporters reportedly show large crowds of Dr. Zango’s supporters assembled peacefully at APC Ward and Local Government secretariats waiting to participate in the direct primary exercise and cast votes for the candidate they believe should represent Kano Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
Headlinenews.news correspondents who monitored developments across the 15 local government areas of Kano Central observed groups of supporters openly chanting the name of Dr. Mohammed Musa Zango as they waited for the commencement of accreditation and voting.
Many supporters described the exercise as an opportunity to peacefully express what they called “the people’s mandate” through direct primaries in line with the party’s constitution and recent directives from the national leadership.
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Supporters of Dr. Zango insist the direct primaries ought to have held because he never signed any consensus or affirmation form as required under APC guidelines and the Electoral Act for a valid consensus arrangement to take effect. Political stakeholders argue that without the written endorsement of all aspirants, any so-called consensus process remains incomplete, making the conduct of direct primaries mandatory under the party’s own rules.
Political observers describe the situation as potentially damaging for party cohesion in Kano, especially at a time when the APC national leadership has repeatedly emphasized internal democracy and grassroots participation as critical to party stability ahead of the 2027 elections.
Supporters of Dr. Zango particularly pointed to massive turnout in Nassarawa Local Government Area — regarded as a major political base associated with former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau — where large crowds reportedly gathered in anticipation of the exercise.
As of press time, APC officials from Abuja deployed to supervise the exercise were reportedly still meeting inside Government House Kano after allegedly spending the entire day there without any formal communication to aspirants or supporters regarding the fate of the primaries.
The prolonged silence has further deepened suspicion and mistrust among aspirants, many of whom now openly question the neutrality of the election committee.
Several party faithful expressed disappointment that after waiting for several hours in difficult weather conditions, no APC official arrived to conduct the exercise or formally communicate the status of the primaries.
The tension comes amid growing concerns over political violence linked to disputed nomination processes. In Kano North, reports indicate that several persons were allegedly killed following clashes involving supporters during ongoing political activities connected to the primaries process.
Analysts warn that transparent primaries remain one of the strongest mechanisms for preventing violence, reducing factional bitterness, and preserving legitimacy within political parties.
“Where members are denied the opportunity to vote freely, frustration naturally grows,” one APC stakeholder in Kano said. “Direct primaries may be difficult to organize, but they remain the safest path to party unity and credibility.”
The unfolding situation is expected to place pressure on the APC national leadership to urgently intervene, clarify the status of the Kano Central exercise, and restore confidence among party members demanding a transparent process.
