APC Chieftain Alleges Matawalle’s Divisive Politics, Urges Tinubu to Intervene

From Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna

Ahead of the 2027 general election, a prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and member of the Tinubu–Shettima Presidential Council 2023, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the former governor of Zamfara State and current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to order over what he alleged to be divisive politics in the state, which he claimed contributed to the party’s defeat in the 2023 gubernatorial election.

In a press statement, Shinkafi also appealed to the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, to call Matawalle to order, alleging that the minister has been dissipating energy and resources fighting prominent leaders of the party in Zamfara State in an attempt to hijack all party structures and continue what he described as a divide-and-rule tactic that allegedly led to the party’s loss in the 2023 governorship election.

He stressed that “a house divided against itself cannot stand.”

The statement further alleged that “it is worrisome that Matawalle, who ought to use his position as former governor and current Minister of State for Defence to unite, stabilize, and strengthen APC in Zamfara State, is the one allegedly causing disaffection among party members ahead of the 2027 general election.”

Shinkafi maintained that “having allegedly failed to learn from his politics of bitterness and vendetta that factionalized the party and led to his defeat as a sitting governor by the Peoples Democratic Party’s Dauda Lawal, Matawalle has instead of embarking on an intensive membership drive, been busy chasing shadows in a vicious cycle.”

“This alleged infantile politics must stop if the APC is to regain Zamfara State in 2027,” the statement continued. “There has been a national clamour for inclusive politics and governance in Nigeria, which is part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. But in Zamfara APC, the reverse is allegedly the case. It is unacceptable, undemocratic, and retrogressive.”

The APC chieftain further alleged that “frustrated over the failure of his second-term bid as governor, Matawalle has been sowing seeds of discord among APC members in the state.”

He also alleged that Matawalle accused Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji and his supporters of anti-party activities in 2023, which forced Jaji to constitute a factional APC leadership in the state led by Isiyaka Ajiya Anka. Similarly, Senator Kabiru Marafa allegedly created another APC factional leadership led by Alhaji Sirajo Maikatako.

According to him, “it was this alleged distraction from statutory duties and poor performance as governor that cost the APC Zamfara State in 2023. That same mistake, he warned, is being repeated ahead of the 2027 general election—now as minister—which could endanger the victory of President Tinubu in the state and the North-West region in general, where Mr. President garnered the highest votes in the 2023 presidential election.”

“It is why I raise an alarm and urge Mr. President and the APC National Chairman to intervene and call Bello Matawalle to order before it is too late. The party cannot afford to lose Zamfara State due to avoidable internal squabbles and lack of cohesion,” Shinkafi said.

He further alleged that “it is ignoble for a minister of the Federal Republic to turn his office into a personal campaign office where he receives inter-party and intra-party decampees. It is morally wrong and politically outrageous. The military is the strength of the nation; its office should not be undermined by political actors in whatever guise, especially at a time of serious security challenges across the country.”

“Matawalle should, if he wishes, open his 2027 governorship campaign office in Zamfara State where he can receive decampees, not at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Abuja. National security should be his priority, not partisan politics,” he added.

Dr. Shinkafi concluded by stressing that “a united APC will win Zamfara State in future elections. It is time to unite and work towards that. I remain a loyal party member and urge Matawalle to focus on his official duties instead of allegedly dissipating energy and resources fighting imaginary political opponents within the APC.”