Your Excellency,
I write this open letter with profound respect for your office and deep appreciation for your enduring commitment to democracy, justice, and inclusive governance. Throughout your political journey, you have consistently projected yourself as a leader who believes that democracy derives its strength not merely from elections but from the sanctity of the people’s mandate. It is this conviction that gives many Nigerians confidence in your leadership and inspires this humble appeal.
The recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial Primary Election for Kwara South has produced a clear outcome. Party members exercised their democratic right, votes were cast, and Dr. Muheebah Dankaka emerged victorious. By every democratic standard, that victory represents the collective will of APC members in Kwara South, and it deserves to be respected and affirmed.
Mr. President, this is not simply about one candidate or one senatorial district. It is about the credibility of internal party democracy and the confidence that party members place in the electoral process. Every primary election is a solemn covenant between a political party and its members—a promise that their votes will count and that the candidate they freely choose will be recognised. Whenever that confidence is weakened, democracy itself is diminished.
This moment carries even greater significance because Dr. Dankaka’s victory represents a rare milestone for women’s political participation in Northern Nigeria. If, indeed, she is the only woman to have won an APC senatorial primary across the nineteen Northern states in this election cycle, then her emergence is more than a personal achievement. It is a symbol of progress, hope and inclusion.
For decades, women in Northern Nigeria have remained significantly underrepresented in elective offices despite their remarkable contributions to national development. They have excelled as administrators, entrepreneurs, academics, professionals and community leaders, yet political representation has remained disproportionately low. Many capable women have been discouraged by cultural barriers, financial limitations and political structures that make elective office difficult to attain.
When one woman overcomes these obstacles through the democratic process and earns the confidence of party members, that victory should be celebrated and protected—not because she is a woman, but because she won fairly.
Your Excellency, your administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda places considerable emphasis on inclusion, equal opportunity and expanding participation in governance. Those principles have inspired millions of Nigerians to believe that leadership should be accessible to every qualified citizen regardless of gender, ethnicity or background.
This presents an opportunity to demonstrate that those ideals are not merely campaign promises but enduring principles that guide the APC.
Affirming Dr. Dankaka’s mandate would send a powerful message that the APC remains a party where merit prevails, democratic choices are respected and internal democracy is protected. It would reassure women across Northern Nigeria that politics is not a closed space but a platform where competence, perseverance and public trust can still triumph.
More importantly, it would reinforce the confidence of party members who participated in the primary election believing that their votes would determine the outcome. Democracy flourishes only when citizens believe that the ballot remains stronger than influence and that victory earned through due process cannot be arbitrarily displaced.
Mr. President, throughout your distinguished political career, you have earned widespread recognition for identifying capable leaders and giving them opportunities to serve. Many prominent public office holders today trace their political growth to your belief in talent, competence and hard work rather than narrow considerations. That legacy has become one of the defining characteristics of your leadership.
Protecting the mandate of Dr. Dankaka would reinforce that legacy. It would demonstrate that your commitment to fairness extends beyond rhetoric and that democratic victories secured through transparent processes deserve protection.
This appeal is not a request for special treatment. It is not an argument that women should be favoured over men. Rather, it is a principled call for equal treatment under the rules that govern our party. Where a candidate has competed fairly, won legitimately and secured the confidence of party members, that mandate should be respected irrespective of gender.
At the same time, affirming her victory would carry a broader national significance. It would encourage more women to participate in politics, inspire young girls across Northern Nigeria to aspire to leadership, and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic credentials by demonstrating that inclusion and merit can coexist.
Political parties are judged not only by the elections they win but also by the integrity of the processes through which they choose their candidates. The APC has built a reputation as a progressive party committed to democratic ideals. Preserving that reputation requires unwavering respect for the decisions freely made by its members.
History often presents leaders with defining moments—moments when the choices they make become symbols of the values they represent. This is one of those moments. The decision taken in respect of the Kwara South Senatorial mandate will resonate beyond Kwara State. It will speak to millions of Nigerians about the APC’s commitment to justice, internal democracy and women’s inclusion.
Your Excellency, I respectfully urge you, as the leader of our great party and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to encourage all relevant organs of the APC to uphold the democratic choice of party members by affirming the mandate freely given to Dr. Muheebah Dankaka, in accordance with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
Doing so will strengthen public confidence in the APC, deepen our democratic culture and inspire a new generation of women to participate in public service. Above all, it will reaffirm the timeless democratic principle that the will of the people must always prevail.
May Almighty Allah continue to grant you wisdom, good health and the strength to lead our great nation with justice, fairness and compassion.
Yours faithfully,
Signed:
Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim Salisu
National President
Northern Women for Democracy and Inclusive Leadership (NWDIL).
