Katsina APC Breaks Male Dominance in 2027 by Nominating a Female Representative

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State has ended a long tradition of male dominance in elective politics with the selection of Hajiya Jamila Abdu Mani as its candidate for the Mani/Bindawa Federal Constituency.

Mani, who is currently the Special Assistant on Girl Child Education and Child Development to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, won a decisive victory in the party’s National Assembly primary held on Saturday.

She received 24,989 votes, defeating her nearest rival, Ahmed Saleh, who secured 1,256 votes in the closely contested exercise conducted on the APC platform with observers from the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Shafi’u Abdu Duwan, Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee for Mani/Bindawa, announced the results and declared the governor’s aide the winner. He stated: “Ahmed Saleh scored 1,256 votes, while Hon. Jamila Abdu Mani secured 24,989 votes. Therefore, by the powers vested in me as Chairman of the Electoral Committee for Mani/Bindawa Federal Constituency, I hereby declare Hon. Jamila Abdu Mani as the duly elected APC candidate for the constituency for the 2027 general election.”

Mani’s emergence is being hailed by APC supporters, women’s groups and political observers as a significant milestone for women’s participation in Katsina, a state where elective positions have historically been dominated by men.

Mohammed Ibrahim, an APC supporter present after the results were announced, described the victory as evidence of growing acceptance of women in leadership and a sign of changing political dynamics in the state. “The party has created space for inclusiveness and has rewarded competence, loyalty and grassroots mobilisation,” he said.

Ahmed Saleh, who polled 1,256 votes, was reportedly placed under “house arrest,” a measure that allegedly limited his full participation in the exercise.

It was also reported that incumbent lawmaker Ahmad Yusuf Doro was persuaded to step down from the race by a reconciliation committee led by former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari.

In a related development, Hon. Salisu Yusuf Majigiri, the member for Mashi/Dutsi Federal Constituency, has been returned unopposed as the APC candidate for the 2027 general election.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the exercise, Majigiri described the outcome as an “extraordinary success” and thanked party officials, stakeholders and supporters for their confidence in him.

The lawmaker emphasized his ongoing commitment to addressing the challenges faced by constituents and working toward solutions. He highlighted his sponsorship of a bill to establish a Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery in Mashi, which has passed all three readings in the House of Representatives and is now before the Senate for concurrence.

Majigiri expressed optimism that the proposed institution would soon receive legislative approval and presidential assent, describing it as a major intervention aimed at advancing healthcare in the state.