Fresh cracks have emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State following the controversial endorsement of Yusuf Buhari for a House of Representatives seat ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The dispute centres on the Daura/Sandamu/Mai’adua Federal Constituency, where a faction of party stakeholders had, during a recent meeting in Sandamu Local Government Area, announced Yusuf Buhari as their preferred candidate. The endorsement, according to local officials, was presented as a collective decision aimed at strengthening the party’s electoral chances.
However, the move has triggered sharp opposition from other influential stakeholders across the Daura Emirate, who have rejected what they described as an attempt to impose candidates on the party structure.
At a separate meeting attended by representatives from five local government areas, including Zango, Baure, Mai’adua, Sandamu, and Daura, party leaders vowed to resist any form of imposition, insisting on adherence to internal democratic processes.
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Speaking at the meeting, Barrister Usman Ahmed El-Marzuk, a former national legal adviser of the APC in Daura, dismissed claims that the endorsement had the backing of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda. He described such assertions as misleading and capable of damaging the governor’s reputation.
El-Marzuk maintained that the governor had consistently advocated for a transparent process that allows each constituency to determine its candidates through consensus or open contest, as provided in the party’s constitution.
He warned that any attempt to bypass established procedures could deepen divisions within the party and hand an advantage to opposition groups ahead of the 2027 elections.
Also reacting, the Chairman of Daura Local Government, Hon. Bala Musa Daura, urged the public to disregard reports suggesting that candidates had been imposed with official backing. Similarly, the Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Katsina State Governor, Yau Umar Gwajo-Gwajo, reiterated that no directive had been issued from the government endorsing any aspirant in the zone.
The controversy comes amid broader political realignments as the APC prepares for the next election cycle, with party stakeholders already positioning for key offices.
The disagreement reflects deeper tensions within the party’s local structure, raising concerns about unity and internal cohesion in a critical political stronghold linked to the legacy of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
As the situation develops, attention is expected to remain on how the party leadership manages the dispute and whether a consensus can be reached without further fracturing its base in Katsina.
