Political setbacks have continued to hit the camp of former Zamfara State governor and serving senator, Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar, as his political structure appears increasingly disorganized.
Senator Abdul’aziz Yari seems to have lost the battle for political supremacy in Zamfara State, as Minister of State for Defence, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, and Governor Dauda Lawal consolidated their influence during the recent APC primaries.
This became evident during the National Assembly and State House of Assembly primaries in Zamfara State, following the political alignment between Governor Dauda Lawal and Minister Mohammed Bello Matawalle.
Their resistance against the alleged imposition of Senator Yari’s preferred candidates, just days before the primaries, compelled party stakeholders to adopt a consensus arrangement that resulted in the return of all serving National Assembly members instead of conducting full primaries.
Another political drama unfolded in Maradun Local Government Area, the hometown of Matawalle, where Senator Yari reportedly sponsored candidates to challenge the minister.
Unfortunately for him, the primaries were rescheduled to Saturday, giving Matawalle’s supporters enough time to mobilize and defeat Yari’s camp in the two constituencies by wide margins.
The large turnout recorded was described as unprecedented in Zamfara’s political history.
Observers said no politician had ever mobilized such a massive crowd from a single ward as Minister Matawalle did in Maradun during the presidential primary held last Saturday.
The move was seen as a strong message to Senator Yari regarding Matawalle’s political strength and grassroots support.
The overwhelming supporters, mostly peasant farmers, women, and youths, came out in large numbers chanting support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
This development reportedly unsettled Senator Yari and his supporters in the local government area, leading attempts to downplay the event with hostility.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reportedly secured 321,579 votes, one of the highest support figures recorded in the North-West.
Political analysts in Zamfara believe the gradual decline of Senator Yari’s political influence is linked to his alleged overreliance on wealth and financial influence to control vulnerable political actors over the years.
They argue that Senator Yari’s political strategies cannot overcome the strong grassroots support enjoyed by Bello Matawalle due to the trust and loyalty he commands among the people of Zamfara, particularly in Maradun Local Government Area.
Many people around Senator Yari are reportedly becoming frustrated with what they describe as his constant emphasis on wealth and his belief that money can achieve anything, even where integrity fails.
In 2019, a group of political elites formed an alliance known as the G8 to challenge what they described as Senator Yari’s injustice and to promote fairness within the APC.
Members of the group included Senator Ahmed Sani Yarima, Senator Kabiru Marafa, Hon. Sani Jaji, former Governor Mahmuda Shinkafi, Dauda Lawal, and others, following Yari’s alleged attempt to manipulate the APC primaries process.
A few years earlier, Senator Yari was also accused of sponsoring campaigns of calumny against his political mentor, Senator Ahmed Sani Yarima, in order to pave the way for his senatorial ambition.
He was equally said to have openly fought his associate, Hon. Sani Takori, in pursuit of political relevance.
Critics argue that there is hardly any major political figure in Zamfara State who has not experienced Senator Yari’s political attacks or manipulative tactics.
According to them, he targets anyone he perceives as a threat in the political arena, including Bello Matawalle, though unsuccessfully.
Alhaji Adamu Na Maidawa, a former local government party chairman in Zamfara, described Senator Yari as more of a political burden than an asset to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope campaign in the state, citing what he called poor representation and detachment from constituents.
According to him, Senator Yari has lost touch with the people due to his alleged neglect of their challenges, particularly insecurity, and his failure to sympathize with or visit victims of attacks.
“Look at how some people rejected his gifts of foodstuffs and money in Gummi, Bukkuyum, and even his hometown, Talata Mafara, because of his attitude of not identifying with them during difficult periods of bandit attacks. More than 114 people lost their lives and properties within two months across nearly three local governments under his constituency,” Adamu said.
Another factor reportedly working against Senator Yari is what critics describe as his habit of undermining others in order to advance politically or destabilizing the political environment whenever events do not favor him.
In 2019, he openly clashed with the then APC National Chairman, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, over disagreements regarding the party’s candidates in Zamfara.
The crisis eventually contributed to the APC losing all elective positions in the state to the PDP.
He was also accused of repeating a similar pattern during the 2023 governorship election, when some of his allies allegedly worked against the APC governorship candidate, Mohammed Bello Matawalle.
While the APC in Zamfara has been seeking unity and reconciliation following the defection of Governor Dauda Lawal, Senator Yari was allegedly busy encouraging his loyalists to boycott peace agreements aimed at achieving consensus, thereby promoting division and indiscipline within the party.
He reportedly sponsored some supporters to oppose the stakeholders’ resolution in favor of consensus arrangements instead of primaries, but the effort eventually failed.
According to a political analyst in Gusau, security agencies should closely monitor Senator Yari over what he described as a history of actions capable of overheating the political atmosphere in Zamfara, despite the state’s numerous security and economic challenges.
He added that the people of Zamfara need peace, political cohesion, and stability, not the distribution of money to create chaos and division within the state.