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Eight Zamfara State lawmakers who resigned from the APC have resolved to return to the ruling party after meeting President Bola Tinubu on Sunday night.
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The lawmakers, who had been linked with an imminent defection to the ADC, have abandoned the move following the President’s intervention and efforts to address their grievances.
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Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara Governor, Bello Matawalle, led the eight lawmakers to Tinubu alongside House of Representatives member Aminu Sani Jaji.
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The reconciliation gives the APC a boost ahead of the 2027 general election, although issues surrounding the lawmakers’ prolonged suspension from the Zamfara State House of Assembly remain unresolved.
October 19, (THEWILL) – President Bola Tinubu has moved to halt a fresh crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State after eight members of the State House of Assembly, who recently resigned from the ruling party and were reportedly heading to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), resolved to return to the APC.
The lawmakers met with the President on Sunday night, where discussions focused on the grievances that prompted their exit and efforts to reconcile them with the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general election.
Following the meeting, the eight legislators resolved not to proceed with their anticipated move to the ADC but to return to the APC and work for the success of the ruling party in the forthcoming elections.
The Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, led the lawmakers to the meeting with Tinubu. He was accompanied by a member of the House of Representatives, Aminu Sani Jaji.
The eight lawmakers are Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing 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.
Their decision to return to the APC came barely weeks after they announced their resignation from the party amid grievances over developments in Zamfara and their prolonged dispute with the leadership of the State House of Assembly.
Although reports following their resignation linked them with an imminent move to the ADC, the legislators had not formally announced their membership of the opposition party.
The meeting with Tinubu has now effectively halted the proposed defection, with moves underway within the APC to address the grievances that prompted their initial decision to leave.
Crisis Behind Lawmakers’ Exit
The eight lawmakers resigned from the APC earlier in October, citing a combination of insecurity, alleged injustice, internal political disagreements and unresolved welfare issues.
Their departure had raised concerns within the ruling party because it involved a sizeable bloc of state legislators at a time when political parties are strengthening their structures ahead of the 2027 general election.
However, the disagreement involving the lawmakers predates their resignation from the APC.
The legislators have been under suspension from the Zamfara State House of Assembly since February 2024 following a dispute with the leadership of the legislature.
They were suspended after participating in a sitting which the leadership of the House declared unauthorised.
The Assembly leadership subsequently accused them of misconduct and violating the rules governing proceedings of the House.
The suspended lawmakers, on the other hand, had complained about their treatment and the continued withholding of their salaries and allowances, turning the legislative dispute into a prolonged political confrontation.
When they eventually announced their resignation from the APC, the lawmakers also raised concerns over insecurity affecting communities across Zamfara State.
Their exit consequently deepened concerns over divisions within the APC structure in the state.
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Zamfara’s Changing Political Landscape
Zamfara has witnessed significant shifts in political allegiance since the 2023 general election.
Governor Dauda Lawal won the March 2023 governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defeating Matawalle, who contested for a second term on the APC platform.
Matawalle subsequently joined Tinubu’s Federal Executive Council as Minister of State for Defence and has remained a leading figure in the APC’s efforts to regain political ground in the state.
Former Governor Abdul’aziz Yari, another influential APC figure in Zamfara, currently represents Zamfara West in the Senate.
Against this background, the resignation of eight lawmakers from the APC had threatened to widen existing cracks within the ruling party’s state structure, particularly as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections.
Their anticipated movement to the ADC had also attracted attention following efforts by the opposition party to expand its membership and political structures ahead of the polls.
The intervention by Tinubu has, however, changed the direction of the lawmakers’ planned political movement.
Rather than joining the ADC, the eight legislators have now resolved to remain within the APC following assurances that steps would be taken to address the issues behind their resignation.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
