A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Shinkafi, has raised concern over the internal crisis within the party in Zamfara State and called for the intervention of President Bola Tinubu.
Shinkafi also appealed to the APC National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, to caution the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, over what he described as divisive and destabilising political activities in the North-Western state.
He said the growing disunity led to the party’s defeat in the last governorship election and warned that the APC could face another loss in 2027 if its national leadership fails to rein in Matawalle and end what he termed a “divide-and-rule” approach.
Shinkafi advised the former governor to focus instead on rebuilding party unity and undertaking a massive membership drive ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“It is worrisome that Matawalle, who should be using his position as a former governor and current Minister of State for Defence to unite and strengthen the APC in Zamfara, is the one fuelling disaffection among party members,” Shinkafi said. “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
He criticised Matawalle for prioritising political manoeuvres over his national security responsibilities, arguing that such distractions and his poor performance as governor contributed to the APC’s defeat in 2023.
“No serious Minister of State for Defence would abandon critical national security duties to focus on welcoming fellow APC members defecting to his side,” he added. “This same behaviour cost the APC Zamfara State in 2023, and it is repeating itself ahead of 2027. It could endanger President Tinubu’s chances in the state and across the North-West, where he recorded his highest votes in the 2023 presidential election.”
Shinkafi urged President Tinubu and the APC leadership to intervene promptly and call Matawalle to order before further damage is done.
“The party cannot afford to lose Zamfara due to internal squabbles and lack of cohesion,” he warned. “Having stepped on many toes as governor and minister, Matawalle should be seeking reconciliation and forgiveness rather than creating more divisions.”
He lamented that the absence of unity had already driven prominent figures such as Senator Kabiru Marafa to resign from the APC in Zamfara, accusing Matawalle of celebrating minor defections instead of addressing the deeper issues threatening the party’s structure.