Disputes have emerged among All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Daura, Katsina State, shortly after a group declared support for Yusuf Buhari, son of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, for a House of Representatives position. The emerging divisions were highlighted following a meeting held in the Sandamu Local Government Area.
Previously, at a gathering in Sandamu, Yusuf Buhari was presented as the favored candidate for the Daura/Sandamu/Mai’adua Federal Constituency by the APC. The council chairman, Usman Na Lado, had stated that this endorsement was a collective decision aimed at bolstering the party's electoral prospects.
Na Lado explained that Yusuf Buhari's suitability for the role was assessed based on his perceived capabilities and the acceptance he held among party stakeholders.
During the same meeting, the stakeholders also reaffirmed their backing for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Dikko Umar Radda as the APC's flag bearers for the presidency and governorship, respectively, in the anticipated 2027 general elections. Additionally, the Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Nasiru Yahaya Daura, was reportedly endorsed for the Daura Senatorial seat.
However, a counter-meeting convened this past weekend by prominent APC stakeholders from five local government areas within the Daura Emirate saw a strong rejection of these endorsements. These stakeholders vowed to resist what they described as an effort to force specific individuals into candidacy for the region.
They alleged that certain officeholders were acting independently, falsely suggesting that the state governor's approval backed their actions. The dissenting group insisted on adhering to the party's established democratic procedures.
Representatives from Zango, Baure, Mai’adua, Sandamu, and Daura local government areas were present at this second meeting. Barrister Usman Ahmed El-Marzuk, a former national legal adviser of the APC in Daura and the chairman of this meeting, stated that the claims of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda endorsing candidates for the Daura zone were untrue.
El-Marzuk clarified that the governor had not sanctioned any candidate imposition, attributing these claims to the machinations of certain party officials aiming to mislead the public and damage the leadership's reputation. He reiterated the governor's stance that each area should determine its own candidate.
He further emphasized that the purpose of their meeting was to safeguard the APC's integrity, uphold the legacy of former President Muhammadu Buhari, and protect Governor Radda's standing. El-Marzuk stressed that the primary focus for the 2027 elections remains securing re-election for Governor Radda and President Tinubu, with no other candidates officially sanctioned at this point.
The former legal adviser accused a senior party official of disseminating misinformation and called for the individual to either retract the false statements and apologize or step down from their position.
He cautioned that such divisive actions could weaken the party and create an advantage for opposition parties if not addressed decisively.
"The APC constitution outlines procedures for either consensus or open competition. Any attempt to circumvent these processes will be unacceptable," El-Marzuk declared.
Echoing these sentiments, the Chairman of Daura Local Government, Hon. Bala Musa Daura, urged the public to dismiss any reports suggesting the governor's endorsement of imposed candidates.
In related remarks, the Special Adviser to the Katsina State Governor on Political Matters, Yau Umar Gwajo-Gwajo, confirmed that the governor had not issued any directives regarding candidate endorsements to the Daura zone or any other area.
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