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…Denies sponsoring ADC governorship candidate
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State has deepened following the prolonged suspension and reported resignation of eight members of the State House of Assembly.
The lawmakers 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).
They were suspended on February 26, 2024, over allegations of conspiracy, mischief, contempt of the House and convening an illegal sitting in violation of the Assembly’s Standing Orders.
However, a 2027 Zamfara North Senatorial District aspirant, Sani Shinkafi, has attributed their reported departure from the party to the Assembly’s failure to recall them and pay their accumulated salaries, allowances and other entitlements.
In a statement issued yesterday, Shinkafi dismissed speculation that the lawmakers were close associates of Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, former Zamfara State governor and Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.
According to him, the suspended lawmakers petitioned the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions to intervene in the dispute and persuade the State Assembly and governor to reinstate them and pay their outstanding entitlements.
Shinkafi said the defection of Governor Dauda Lawal from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in March 2026 had raised hopes that the dispute would be resolved amicably, since the parties involved were now members of the same political party.
He explained that Yari subsequently convened an APC stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the lingering crisis and other political developments in the state.
“At the stakeholders’ meeting, I urged Senator Yari to approach Governor Lawal, as he planned to defect to APC, to amicably resolve the matter to foster peace and unity in the party. Sadly, all efforts made were abortive,” he said.
Shinkafi added that Yari had provided financial assistance to the suspended lawmakers and continued to facilitate behind-the-scenes efforts to resolve the dispute.
He faulted those blaming the former governor for failing to resolve the crisis, describing their claims as products of ignorance and political mischief intended to undermine his leadership.
According to him, some political actors in the state were unhappy with Yari’s appointment as Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council and had resorted to spreading misinformation about him.
Shinkafi maintained that Yari possessed the political experience and leadership capacity required to lead the campaign, dismissing criticisms of his role in the APC’s internal affairs.
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Meanwhile, the former chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has dismissed social media reports alleging that Yari was sponsoring the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Zamfara State, Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi.
He described the allegation as false and politically motivated, insisting that the relationship between Yari and the ADC candidate was based on family ties rather than political sponsorship.
According to Shinkafi, the ADC candidate is a cousin of Yari’s wife, who is the daughter of the late Umaru Shinkafi, and is also related to the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, a former governor of Kebbi State.
He further said the candidate was related to the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund and former Zamfara State Governor Mahmud Shinkafi.
Shinkafi explained that Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi had previously sought the APC ticket for the 2027 Zamfara North Senatorial District election but was not cleared by the party’s screening committee.
He alleged that the aspirant subsequently defected to the ADC to pursue his governorship ambition through a substitution window provided under the electoral framework.
According to him, the candidate’s uncle, former Governor Mahmud Shinkafi, had also aspired to contest the Zamfara North senatorial seat but was equally disqualified by the APC screening committee.
He added that Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi had previously served as a commissioner under former Governor Bello Matawalle before resigning following his appointment as a federal commissioner at the National Assembly Commission.
Shinkafi said the ADC candidate remained a political ally of Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, contrary to claims linking his ambition to Yari.
He described Yari as a team player who valued reconciliation and maintained cordial relationships with political associates, adding that the former governor believed political power ultimately rested with God.
“Yari has the political maturity and leadership acumen to drive the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council,” he said.
He maintained that the APC remained strong and united in Zamfara State under Yari’s leadership, urging Nigerians to disregard what he described as false reports about the former governor and the party.
Shinkafi called for support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, saying the country needed visionary and purposeful leadership to sustain democracy and development.
