Kaura wins APC Zamfara North senatorial ticket with 16,758 votes

Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Zamfara North Senatorial District, after a primary election held in Gusau on Monday, November 2, 2026.

The returning officer, Sani Abdullahi, announced the result, saying Kaura polled 16,758 votes to beat two other aspirants.

Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya'u came second with 1,465 votes, while Alhaji Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi scored 1,447 votes.

Abdullahi said 23,257 voters were registered for the exercise, 19,608 were accredited, and 19,492 votes were valid.

He declared Kaura returned elected, saying the senator met the requirements of the APC constitution and guidelines and scored the highest number of votes.

Security concerns around the primary

The primary was held under tight security, but it was earlier overshadowed by reports of an attack on police officers deployed to protect the exercise along the Sokoto-Gusau road.

Details of that attack, including any casualties, were not contained in the reports available at the time of writing.

Zamfara North is one of the areas worst hit by banditry and kidnapping in the north-west, and security is a major concern for voters there.

Whoever wins the senatorial seat will be expected to speak for residents on security, farming and travel along roads that have become dangerous in recent years.

What happens next

Kaura's name will go to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the APC candidate for the district in the 2027 general elections.

The other parties are expected to hold their own primaries and present candidates before the commission publishes the final list of candidates.

For now, the APC has settled its flag bearer in Zamfara North, and the contest moves to the general election.