Tensions within the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have intensified following fresh calls for President Bola Tinubu to remove the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, over allegations of worsening internal party conflicts.
The demand was raised by Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, a notable APC figure and former National Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Speaking during a media briefing at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, Shinkafi urged the President to take urgent action to address the growing crisis within the party in Zamfara State.
Shinkafi linked the ongoing dispute to complications surrounding the party’s membership electronic registration exercise, which he said has further exposed deep divisions among party members in the state. He claimed that Matawalle’s involvement in party affairs has contributed significantly to the disagreements and instability.
According to Shinkafi, he has repeatedly advocated for the scrapping of the Office of the Minister of State for Defence, arguing that the substantive Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, is capable of handling national defence responsibilities independently. He insisted that Musa possesses the necessary experience, educational qualifications, and leadership ability required for the position.
He further alleged that Matawalle’s continued presence in government has fueled hostility, internal disunity, and political fragmentation within the APC in Zamfara. Shinkafi maintained that removing Matawalle from the Federal Executive Council could help restore unity within the party and strengthen its chances in future elections.
Shinkafi explained that his visit to the party headquarters was also driven by concerns regarding the exclusion of members from his political movement, the Wambai Shinkafi Democratic Front, from the party’s ongoing membership registration. He stated that the movement has supporters across the 14 local government areas and all 147 electoral wards in Zamfara State, yet many of them have allegedly been denied registration.
He emphasised that the exclusion occurred despite his public endorsement of President Tinubu’s potential re-election bid in 2027 and his own declared intention to contest the Zamfara governorship election during the same period.
The APC chieftain also alleged that he has been subjected to threats, intimidation, and harassment, which he attributed to Matawalle. He dismissed claims that former Governor Abdulaziz Yari or other party figures such as Aminu Sani Jaji were responsible for the situation, insisting that Matawalle played the primary role.
Shinkafi further accused Matawalle of influencing the selection of party officials across Zamfara during his tenure as governor, claiming that state, local government, and ward executives were largely appointed under Matawalle’s control in 2021.
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