Eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly who recently announced their resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) have met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where they reportedly reaffirmed their support for the president and their commitment to the ruling party.
The lawmakers were led to the Villa by the Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, an APC chieftain who has been involved in the party’s political activities in the state.
According to a statement issued on Monday by Ahmad Dan-Wudil, Personal Assistant on Media to Matawalle, the lawmakers pledged their support for Tinubu and expressed their resolve to remain aligned with the APC.
The statement also said Matawalle promised to integrate the legislators into the Tinubu Again Movement (TAM), a political group expected to mobilise support for the president and other APC candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development comes amid political realignments within the Zamfara chapter of the APC, following the lawmakers’ reported resignation from the party and their criticism of its leadership and handling of insecurity in the state.
However, the circumstances surrounding their reported resignation and their subsequent reaffirmation of loyalty to the APC raise questions about the political differences within the party and the lawmakers’ future affiliations.
Matawalle moves to consolidate APC support
Matawalle’s decision to lead the lawmakers to meet Tinubu and his reported promise to integrate them into the Tinubu Again Movement signal an effort to consolidate support for the president ahead of the next general election.
According to the statement, the minister said the lawmakers would work collectively with other party members to support Tinubu and all APC candidates in 2027.
The eight legislators are Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Ibrahim Tukur Bakura, representing Bakura; Faruk Musa Dosara, representing Maradun I; and Bashir Abubakar Masama, representing Bukkuyum North.
Others are Muktaru Nasiru Kaura, representing Kaura North; Nasiru Abdullahi, representing Maru North; Bashar Bello, representing Bungudu West; and Bashar Aliyu, representing Gummi I.
Their meeting with the president comes at a time when political actors across the country are beginning to position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections, with party loyalty, candidate support and control of political structures becoming increasingly significant.
The reported pledge of support could strengthen the APC’s mobilisation efforts in Zamfara, although the extent of the lawmakers’ influence and the practical implications of their stated position remain to be seen.
Lawmakers suspended over alleged misconduct
The eight lawmakers were suspended by the Zamfara State House of Assembly on February 26, 2024, over allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy and holding an illegal sitting.
Their suspension was extended on May 13, 2026.
The Speaker of the House, Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki, had maintained that the disciplinary action predated the lawmakers’ political decisions and arose from internal matters within the legislature.
The speaker’s position suggests that the suspension was an internal legislative dispute rather than a direct consequence of the lawmakers’ subsequent political affiliations.
The lawmakers’ suspension and their reported resignation from the APC have since formed part of a wider dispute involving party unity, political grievances and the handling of security challenges in Zamfara State.
The allegations that led to their suspension remain distinct from the political issues they subsequently raised against the party. The available information does not establish the outcome of any further proceedings concerning the allegations of misconduct.
Insecurity, injustice cited in resignation letters
In their resignation letters, the lawmakers reportedly cited alleged injustice, disunity among APC stakeholders in Zamfara and dissatisfaction with the handling of insecurity as reasons for leaving the party.
Their complaints point to internal disagreements within the state chapter of the ruling party, particularly over political inclusion, leadership relations and the response to persistent security challenges.
Zamfara has faced serious security problems, including attacks by armed groups, abductions and threats to communities. The handling of insecurity has consequently remained a major issue for political leaders and residents in the state.
The lawmakers’ decision to cite security concerns alongside alleged injustice and disunity suggests that their grievances extended beyond party membership to questions about governance and the political direction of the state.
However, the statement announcing their meeting with Tinubu did not provide details on whether the concerns raised in their resignation letters were discussed during the meeting or whether any commitments were made to address them.
Their reported reaffirmation of support for the president also leaves open questions about their formal status within the APC following their earlier resignation announcements.
Shinkafi disputes claims linking lawmakers to Yari
Meanwhile, APC chieftain Sani Shinkafi has disputed claims linking the eight lawmakers to Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, describing reports suggesting such an association as “mischievous and sponsored”.
Shinkafi also clarified that five of the legislators were elected to the Zamfara State House of Assembly in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before subsequently defecting to the APC.
According to him, only three of the eight lawmakers won their seats on the APC ticket.
The clarification adds another dimension to the dispute over the lawmakers’ political affiliations, highlighting the movement of legislators between parties and the competing claims surrounding political alignments in Zamfara.
Their previous party affiliations are also relevant to understanding the current situation, as the lawmakers’ movement into and out of the APC reflects the broader pattern of political defections that has shaped party competition in Nigeria.
Shinkafi’s rejection of claims linking them to Yari underscores the sensitivity surrounding political alliances within the state, where disagreements among party figures can influence perceptions of loyalty and the balance of power.
However, his characterisation of the reports as sponsored represents his position on the matter and does not independently establish who, if anyone, was responsible for circulating them.
APC faces questions over unity in Zamfara
The meeting with Tinubu highlights the continuing effort by APC figures to maintain political support in Zamfara ahead of the 2027 general elections, even as disagreements over party leadership and the suspension of legislators remain unresolved.
For Matawalle and other party leaders, bringing the lawmakers into the Tinubu Again Movement could provide an opportunity to strengthen the president’s support network in the state.
For the lawmakers, their reported pledge of loyalty raises questions about how their earlier grievances will be reconciled with their renewed support for the ruling party.
The key issues include whether the dispute over their suspension will be resolved, whether their complaints about injustice and insecurity will receive further attention, and what their reported resignation means for their formal membership of the APC.
The meeting also illustrates how political mobilisation ahead of 2027 is unfolding alongside internal party disputes, with leaders seeking to consolidate alliances while managing disagreements over representation, party discipline and governance.
As the election approaches, the APC’s ability to maintain unity in Zamfara may depend not only on securing public declarations of support for Tinubu but also on addressing the grievances raised by its members and clarifying the status of the lawmakers involved.
For now, the meeting at the Presidential Villa signals a reported reaffirmation of political support for Tinubu, but the longer-term implications for the lawmakers’ party membership and the APC’s internal relations in Zamfara remain unclear.
