The Arewa Women for Quality Representation and Good Governance (AWQRGG), an advocacy organisation committed to women’s emancipation, quality representation, the implementation of the 35% Affirmative Action for women in governance, and the promotion of good governance in Nigeria, has joined the growing calls for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to uphold and restore the senatorial candidacy of Hajiya Muheebat Dankaka, who emerged victorious in the recently concluded APC Senatorial Primary Election for Kwara South.

According to the group, Hajiya Dankaka secured an overwhelming victory over all other aspirants through a transparent and credible electoral process, driven by her widespread grassroots acceptance and the overwhelming support of women, youths, traditional institutions, party faithful, and other critical stakeholders across Kwara South and the state at large.

In a press statement jointly signed in Kaduna by the National Coordinator, Barr. Laraba Danjuma, and the General Secretary, Hajiya Bilikisu Muhammadu, the organisation strongly condemned what it described as the unjust marginalisation, victimisation, and unfair treatment of Hajiya Dankaka following her well-deserved victory at the party’s primary election.

The group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC, and the leadership of the National Assembly to safeguard the integrity of the party’s democratic processes by ensuring that justice, equity, fairness, and inclusiveness prevail. It stressed that denying Hajiya Dankaka the mandate freely given to her by party members would not only undermine internal democracy but also discourage millions of women across Northern Nigeria and the country from actively participating in politics.

According to the statement, withholding her name from the final list of candidates would run contrary to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which promotes inclusion, equal opportunity, and gender equity in governance. It would also contradict the APC’s long-standing commitment to the implementation of the 35% Affirmative Action for women.

The organisation maintained that the mandate was freely and democratically bestowed upon Hajiya Dankaka by APC delegates in Kwara South through a transparent, free, and credible electoral process. It noted that her victory reflected the confidence reposed in her by party members who recognised her competence, integrity, capacity, leadership qualities, and unwavering commitment to public service and humanity.

The statement further emphasised that the outcome of the APC Senatorial Primary Election in Kwara South should be respected and upheld by all relevant stakeholders. It noted that party members exercised their democratic rights peacefully, votes were duly cast and counted, and Hajiya Muheebat Dankaka emerged as the clear winner by every democratic standard. Consequently, the group insisted that her victory deserves to be affirmed, protected, and respected.

The organisation stated that the matter extends beyond one individual, describing it as a critical test of the credibility of the APC’s internal democratic process and the confidence that party members place in the electoral system. It noted that every primary election represents a sacred covenant between a political party and its members, whose votes must be respected.

The group described any attempt to disregard or overturn the outcome of the primary election as unjust, undemocratic, and a violation of the fundamental rights of Hajiya Dankaka and the wishes of the delegates who freely elected her.

It further observed that Hajiya Dankaka’s victory represents a historic milestone for women’s political participation in Northern Nigeria. For decades, women in the region have continued to face enormous cultural, political, and institutional barriers despite their enormous contributions to national development.

The organisation noted that Hajiya Dankaka is reportedly the only woman to have emerged victorious in an APC Senatorial Primary Election across the nineteen Northern states. As such, her emergence is not merely a personal achievement but a powerful symbol of hope, inclusion, women’s empowerment, and the gradual dismantling of long-standing barriers against female political participation.

Speaking further, the National Coordinator, Barr. Laraba Danjuma, stated:

«”For decades, women in Northern Nigeria have remained grossly underrepresented in elective offices despite their remarkable contributions to national development. They have excelled in every sphere of human endeavour, yet their political representation has remained disproportionately low because of cultural stereotypes, financial limitations, and political structures that often make elective offices difficult for women to attain.»

«Hajiya Muheebat Dankaka has broken through these barriers by participating in a democratic process, earning the confidence of party members and the electorate. Such a victory should not only be celebrated but vigorously protected. Allowing injustice to prevail at this stage would send the wrong signal to millions of capable women who aspire to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s democratic development.”»

The organisation also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the leadership of the APC to intervene by ensuring that justice is done. It stated that the Renewed Hope Agenda places significant emphasis on inclusiveness, equal opportunities, and broader participation in governance irrespective of gender, ethnicity, religion, or social background.

According to the group, every Nigerian should have the opportunity to aspire to elective office and be judged solely on merit and the outcome of a transparent democratic process rather than prejudice or discrimination.

The statement concluded that affirming Hajiya Dankaka’s mandate would send a powerful message that internal democracy remains sacrosanct within the APC. It would also reassure Nigerian women that politics is open to all qualified citizens and that electoral victories secured through transparent, free, and credible processes will always be respected regardless of gender.

The group therefore appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the First Lady, the APC National Chairman, members of the National Working Committee, and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that Hajiya Muheebat Dankaka’s mandate is upheld and that her name is restored to the party’s final list of candidates for submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Finally, the organisation called on all people of goodwill, women’s organisations, youth groups, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, the media, and all advocates of democracy and justice to lend their voices to this cause by supporting the call for the restoration and protection of Hajiya Muheebat Dankaka’s democratic mandate.

The group maintained that protecting her victory is not only about one individual but about preserving the sanctity of democracy, strengthening internal party democracy, promoting gender inclusion, and ensuring that the will of the people remains supreme.