…make U-turn after meeting President Tinubu
By Sanni Abdullahi
Eight members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly who resigned from the All Progressives Congress, APC, a few weeks ago have made a U-turn and resolved to return to the ruling party after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The lawmakers, who had been widely tipped to defect to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, met with the President on Sunday night at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where issues surrounding their resignation were discussed.
They were led to the President by the Minister of State for Defence and former Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Bello Matawalle, who was accompanied by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, representing Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency.
According to a statement issued on Monday by Matawalle’s Personal Assistant on Media, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, the lawmakers reaffirmed their loyalty to the APC and pledged their continued support for President Tinubu and his administration.
Dan-Wudil said Matawalle has pledged to integrate the lawmakers into the Tinubu Again Movement, TAM, a political platform mobilising support for the President and all APC candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The eight lawmakers are: Aliyu Ango Kagara (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).
The lawmakers had announced their resignation from the APC earlier in October, citing worsening insecurity in Zamfara, alleged injustice, disunity among APC stakeholders in the state, deception, and non-payment of salaries, allowances and entitlements running into 32 months.
Their resignation had raised concerns within the ruling party, as it involved a sizeable bloc of state legislators at a time when parties are strengthening structures ahead of 2027. Following their resignation, reports had strongly linked them to an imminent defection to the ADC, though they had not formally announced membership of the opposition party.
Sources at the meeting disclosed that President Tinubu assured the lawmakers that moves to address their grievances are underway, including reconciliation with party leaders in Zamfara and engagement with the leadership of the State House of Assembly.
It would be recalled that the eight lawmakers have been under suspension from the Zamfara State House of Assembly since February 26, 2024, after participating in what the Assembly leadership described as an unauthorised sitting and an attempt to impeach the Speaker, Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki. Their suspension was extended on May 13, 2026, over allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy and contempt of the House.
The Speaker has maintained that the disciplinary action preceded their resignation from the APC.
With the presidential intervention, the planned defection to the ADC has now been shelved, as the lawmakers have unanimously resolved to work for the success of the APC in the 2027 general election.