BY TAIBAT UMMI YAKUBU
A fresh political storm has hit Zamfara State after eight members of the State House of Assembly announced their resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), deepening uncertainty within the party and fueling speculation about major political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The lawmakers, among them prominent figures linked to former Governor Bello Matawalle’s political camp, said they could no longer remain in a party they believe has failed to adequately address the worsening security crisis and other pressing concerns affecting communities across the state.
Their departure marks one of the most significant setbacks for the APC in Zamfara in recent times and comes amid growing tension, internal disagreements and shifting alliances that have continued to reshape the state's political landscape.
The legislators who formally exited the party 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).
In their resignation notice, the lawmakers expressed frustration over what they described as the inability of the APC to provide effective leadership and security for residents. They argued that communities across Zamfara, particularly in rural areas, continue to face serious security threats with little attention given to the concerns of those directly affected.
Speaking on the development, Aliyu Ango Kagara said the decision to leave the party was reached after careful consideration of what he described as unmet expectations and unresolved security challenges confronting their constituents.
According to him, residents in many rural communities had entrusted them with the responsibility of championing solutions to insecurity, but those concerns were allegedly not receiving the attention they deserved. He maintained that remaining in the party under such circumstances no longer aligned with the expectations of the people they represent.
Kagara also raised concerns over the welfare of lawmakers, alleging that members of the Assembly had gone for nearly three years without receiving salaries, allowances and other entitlements attached to their positions.
He claimed that for 32 months, elected lawmakers had been deprived of benefits due to them, a situation he described as unacceptable and one that had further contributed to dissatisfaction among affected members.
The resignations have added another layer of intrigue to Zamfara politics, especially as the lawmakers declined to reveal their next political destination. Their silence has sparked widespread speculation about possible defections to rival parties as political actors begin positioning themselves ahead of the next election cycle.
Reacting to the development, the APC leadership in Zamfara said it had yet to receive any official communication from the lawmakers. The party's Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Danmadamin Birnin Magaji, stated that the APC only became aware of the resignations through social media reports and was still awaiting formal notification through the appropriate party structures.
He explained that any resignation process would first pass through ward and local government party executives before reaching the state leadership, adding that the party would issue its official position once the necessary documents were received.
Danmadamin also dismissed suggestions that the resignations were linked to an internal crisis within the party, insisting that the APC had not been formally informed of any grievances by the affected lawmakers.
However, a senior party figure who spoke anonymously painted a different picture, suggesting that long-standing disagreements and failed reconciliation efforts may have contributed to the mass exit. The source alleged that several attempts had been made to bridge differences within the party but yielded little success.
The development comes against the backdrop of earlier disciplinary actions involving the lawmakers. Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that the legislators had previously been suspended following allegations that they were involved in efforts to remove the Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly about a year ago.
As political observers continue to assess the implications of the resignations, attention is now turning to the next move of the eight lawmakers and whether their departure could trigger a broader shake-up within Zamfara's political establishment.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!