Ahead of the 2027 general election, a prominent member of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Council 2023, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi has urged President Bola Tinubu to call former governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Bello Matawalle to order over what he called his ‘divisive politics’ in the state that led to the party’s defeat in the 2023 governorship election when the Minister of State for Defence sought re-election as governor.
In a statement Shinkafi, a prominent member of the the All Progressives Congress (APC), also appealed to the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda to call Matawalle to order.
According to Shinkafi, the former governor has been ‘dissipating energy and resources fighting prominent leaders of the party in the state in an attempt to hijack all party structures and continue his divide-and-rule tactic that led to the defeat of our great party in Zamfara State in 2023 governorship election. It is obvious that a house divided against itself cannot stand’.
The statement further explained that ‘It is worrisome that Matawalle, who ought to use his position as former governor and current Minister of State for Defence to unite, stabilise and strengthen APC in Zamfara State, is the person causing disaffection amongst party members ahead of the 2027 general election’.
The statement maintained that Matawalle had ‘failed to learn from his politics of bitterness and vendetta that factionalised the party and led to his defeat as a sitting governor by the Peoples Democratic Party’s Dauda Lawal. Instead of an intensive membership drive, Bello Matawalle has been busy chasing shadows in a vicious cycle.
‘This infantile politics must stop, if APC should regain Zamfara State in 2027. There has been a national clamour for inclusive politics and governance in Nigeria, which is part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. In Zamfara APC, the reverse is the case. It is unacceptable, undemocratic and retrogressive.
‘Frustrated over the failure of his second term bid as governor, Matawalle has been sowing seeds of discord amongst APC members in the state’.
‘That is why I raise an alarm and urge Mr. President and the APC National Chairman to intervene and call Bello Matawalle to order before it is too late. The party cannot afford to lose Zamfara State due to avoidable internal squabbles and lack of cohesion’.
He pointed out that ‘it is ignoble for a minister of the Federal Republic to turn his office to a personal campaign office where he receives inter-party and intra-party decampees. It is morally wrong and politically outrageous. The military is the strength of the nation. Its office should not be undermined by political actors in whatever guise at a time of serious security challenges across the country.
‘Matawalle should open his 2027 governorship campaign office in Zamfara State where he will receive decampees, not at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters Abuja. National security should be his priority not partisan politics.
‘A united APC will win Zamfara State in future elections. It is time to unite and work towards that. l remain a loyal party member. I urge Matawalle to face his official duties instead of dissipating energy and resources fighting imaginary political opponents within APC’.
