The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, on Saturday emerged unopposed as the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for Zaria Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tajudeen secured the party’s ticket through an affirmation exercise conducted across the 13 electoral wards in the constituency.
The wards involved include Kwarbai A, Kwarbai B, Limancin-Kona, Unguwar Fatika, Unguwar Juma, Dutsen Abba, Gyallesu, Kufena, Dambo, Wuchichiri, Tudun Wada, Tukur-Tukur, and Kaura.
The exercise, which began simultaneously in all wards at about 10 a.m., recorded large turnout of APC members who gathered at various party offices across the constituency.
At Kwarbai B Ward, the Speaker’s ward, the process was conducted peacefully under the supervision of the ward APC Returning Officer, Malam Iliyasu Muhammad Balarabe, in the presence of Abbas Tajudeen.
According to the ward APC secretary, Nafiu Sabo, the ward has over 10,000 registered members, but 220 members were accredited for the exercise.
Before the affirmation, Balarabe informed members that Tajudeen was the only aspirant who purchased nomination forms, underwent screening, and was cleared by the APC national leadership to contest the Zaria Federal Constituency seat.
Following a voice vote by accredited members, the Speaker was affirmed as the party’s candidate in the ward, a process replicated across the remaining 12 wards.
At the constituency collation centre, the APC Returning Officer for the House of Representatives primary in Zaria Federal Constituency, Dr. Hamisu Ibrahim Kubau, announced that 1,376 APC members across the 13 wards endorsed Tajudeen as the party’s flagbearer.
He explained that although thousands of party members participated in the exercise, only accredited delegates were allowed to vote.
Dr. Kubau declared: “There are 13 wards in Zaria Federal Constituency, and only one aspirant purchased a form, was screened, and cleared. He is Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen. After due process, we conducted affirmations across all wards.”
He added that the process was peaceful and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and party representatives.
Chairman of the APC House of Representatives Primary Elections in Kaduna State, Senator Yakubu Oseni, described the outcome as a reflection of the Speaker’s popularity and acceptance among constituents.
He expressed confidence that Tajudeen would secure victory in the 2027 general elections.
Ward-by-ward results showed Kwarbai A – 97; Kwarbai B – 220; Unguwar Juma – 98; Limancin-Kona – 97; Kaura – 95; Tudun Wada – 96; Gyallesu – 95; Unguwar Fatika – 92; Tukur-Tukur – 97; Dambo – 98; Wuchichiri – 97; Dutsen Abba – 100; and Kufena – 94, totaling 1,376 votes.
Speaking after his declaration, Speaker Tajudeen expressed appreciation to APC members for reaffirming their confidence in him.