Political Earthquake: Matawalle and 8 Lawmakers Pledge Allegiance to Tinubu, APC
Eight suspended Zamfara State lawmakers, who previously resigned from the APC, have met President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reaffirm their loyalty to the party. Led by Dr. Bello Matawalle, they pledged support for Tinubu and the APC ahead of the 2027 elections, despite earlier suspensions and grievances.
Eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, who had recently resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), have formally met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. During this crucial meeting, the lawmakers unequivocally reaffirmed their unwavering loyalty to the APC, signaling a significant political development within the state.
The delegation was led to the Presidential Villa by Dr. Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence and former Governor of Zamfara State. According to a statement released by Matawalle’s Personal Assistant on Media, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, the meeting saw the lawmakers pledge their continued support for President Tinubu and reiterated their firm resolve to remain within the APC fold. Further solidifying their commitment, Matawalle assured the integration of these lawmakers into the "Tinubu Again Movement (TAM)," a strategic move aimed at fostering collective efforts for President Tinubu and all APC candidates in anticipation of the 2027 general elections.
The eight lawmakers involved in these discussions are Aliyu Ango Kagara (Talata Mafara South), Ibrahim Tukur Bakura (Bakura), Faruk Musa Dosara (Maradun I), Bashir Abubakar Masama (Bukkuyum North), Muktaru Nasiru Kaura (Kaura North), Nasiru Abdullahi (Maru North), Bashar Bello (Bungudu West), and Bashar Aliyu (Gummi I).
Their suspension from the Zamfara State House of Assembly on February 26, 2024, initially stemmed from serious allegations including gross misconduct, conspiracy, and holding an illegal sitting. This suspension was subsequently extended on May 13, 2024. The Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki, clarified that these disciplinary actions and the suspension predated their decision to switch political affiliations, emphasizing that they arose from internal legislative matters.
Prior to their recent reaffirmation, these lawmakers had cited a range of grievances as their reasons for resigning from the APC. These included alleged injustice, a perceived disunity among APC stakeholders within Zamfara State, and dissatisfaction with the party’s handling of insecurity issues in the region.
Adding further context to their political journey, APC chieftain Dr. Sani Shinkafi provided clarification that five of the eight legislators were originally elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023 before subsequently defecting to the APC. Only three of them initially secured their seats under the APC banner. Shinkafi also definitively dismissed any claims attempting to link these lawmakers to Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, labeling such reports as "mischievous and sponsored."