The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State has denied reports linking former governor and senator, Abdul’Aziz Abubakar Yari, to the resignation of eight members of the State House of Assembly who recently left the party.
An APC chieftain and 2027 Zamfara North Senatorial aspirant, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, made the clarification in a statement, describing reports linking Yari to the lawmakers’ decision as “mischievous and sponsored”.
The lawmakers named in the statement are Aliyu Ango Kagara of Talata Mafara South, Ibrahim Tukur Bakura of Bakura, Faruk Musa Dosara of Maradun I, Bashir Abubakar Masama of Bukkuyum North, Muktaru Nasiru Kaura of Kaura North, Nasiru Abdullahi of Maru North, Bashar Bello of Bungudu West and Bashar Aliyu of Gummi I.
Shinkafi said the lawmakers had been suspended on February 26, 2024, over allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy and convening an illegal sitting. He added that the House leadership instituted criminal proceedings against them and ordered arrest warrants, forcing them to leave the state.
According to him, five of the eight lawmakers were elected in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before defecting to the APC, while only three were elected on the ruling party’s platform.
He also claimed that some of the lawmakers were politically aligned with former governors Bello Matawalle and Ahmed Sani Yerima rather than Yari.
“Hon. Ibrahim Tukur Bakura, for instance, was nominated to replace a late member in 2020 on PDP platform and defected with Matawalle in 2021. The member for Maradun I served as Majority Leader under Matawalle. They have no political affiliation with Senator Yari,” Shinkafi said.
He further stated that Aliyu Ango Kagara of Talata Mafara South was declared absent by the Assembly in January 2025 after attending only 21 of 180 sittings. Shinkafi maintained that Kagara was not among the lawmakers suspended in February 2024.
The APC chieftain said efforts by Yari and other party stakeholders to resolve the legislative dispute had failed because the House leadership allegedly refused to lift the suspension and instead pursued legal action.
He added that the party’s decision not to give the affected lawmakers tickets for the 2027 elections was a major factor behind their resignation.
Shinkafi also claimed that Yari provided personal financial assistance to some of the suspended lawmakers and helped settle some of their bank loans after they lost access to their salaries and other entitlements.
“I passionately appealed to the House leadership and Governor Dauda Lawal for a political solution and payment of their entitlements, but the leadership remained adamant,” he said.
Yari denies alleged sponsorship of ADC candidate
Shinkafi also dismissed claims circulating on social media that Yari was sponsoring the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Zamfara State, Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi.
He described the allegation as “a blatant lie and campaign of calumny” allegedly aimed at undermining Yari’s political standing.
According to him, the ADC candidate is related by marriage to Yari, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, and former Zamfara governor Mahmud Shinkafi. However, he insisted that the family connections did not amount to political sponsorship.
Shinkafi said the ADC candidate had sought the APC ticket for the Zamfara North senatorial seat ahead of the 2027 elections but was not cleared by the party’s screening committee.
APC reconciliation efforts
The APC chieftain said Yari and Governor Dauda Lawal were now members of the same party following Lawal’s reported defection from the PDP in March 2026, raising expectations that the dispute involving the lawmakers could be resolved.
He alleged that Yari convened a stakeholders’ meeting to broker peace but that some key figures, including the Minister of State for Defence, did not attend.
Despite the disagreements, Shinkafi insisted that the APC remained united in Zamfara State under Yari’s leadership.
He expressed confidence that the former governor, who he said serves as Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, would support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Senator Yari is a team player and man of enormous political sagacity. His appointment as DG of the Presidential Campaign Council reflects national acceptance that some rivals are uncomfortable with,” Shinkafi said.
He urged residents to disregard what he described as misinformation about Yari and the APC, insisting that the party remained strong and united ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Shinkafi also called on party supporters to rally behind Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and Yari.
