By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has dismissed reports alleging that former governor and Senator Abdul’Aziz Abubakar Yari is sponsoring the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Hon. Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi, describing the claim as false and politically motivated.
Shinkafi, who is also an aspirant for the Zamfara North Senatorial seat in the 2027 elections, made the clarification in a statement in which he also denied reports linking Yari to the recent resignation of eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly from the APC.
He described the allegations as mischievous, insisting that they were intended to misrepresent Yari’s political relationships and undermine his standing within the party.
The eight lawmakers are Aliyu Ango Kagara of Talata Mafara South, Ibrahim Tukur Bakura of Bakura, Faruk Musa Dosara of Maradun I, Bashir Abubakar Masama of Bukkuyum North, Muktaru Nasiru Kaura of Kaura North, Nasiru Abdullahi of Maru North, Bashar Bello of Bungudu West and Bashar Aliyu of Gummi I.
According to Shinkafi, the lawmakers were suspended on February 26, 2024, over allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy and convening an illegal sitting. He said the Assembly leadership subsequently initiated criminal proceedings against them and sought arrest warrants, worsening the political crisis.
He explained that five of the eight lawmakers were elected in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before defecting to the APC, while the remaining three won their seats on the APC platform.
Shinkafi further argued that some of the lawmakers had political ties to former governors Bello Matawalle and Ahmed Sani Yerima rather than Yari.
“Hon. Ibrahim Tukur Bakura, for instance, was nominated to replace a late member in 2020 on the PDP platform and defected with Matawalle in 2021. The member for Maradun I served as Majority Leader under Matawalle. They have no political affiliation with Senator Yari,” he said.
He also referred to Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South, claiming that the lawmaker was declared absent by the Assembly in January 2025 after attending only 21 of 180 sittings. He maintained that Kagara was not among the eight lawmakers suspended in February 2024.
Yari’s Intervention in Assembly Crisis
Shinkafi said Yari and other APC stakeholders had made efforts to resolve the dispute between the lawmakers and the Assembly leadership, but the interventions failed to produce a settlement.
He alleged that the Assembly leadership declined to lift the suspension and instead pursued legal action against the affected legislators.
According to him, the lawmakers’ exclusion from the APC’s ticket arrangements for the 2027 elections also contributed to their decision to resign from the party.
Shinkafi added that the suspended legislators had suffered financial hardship following the withholding of their salaries and other entitlements, claiming that Yari provided personal financial assistance and helped offset some of their bank loans.
“I passionately appealed to the House leadership and Governor Dauda Lawal for a political solution and payment of their entitlements, but the leadership remained adamant,” he stated.
‘No Political Sponsorship’ for ADC Candidate
On the allegation that Yari was backing the ADC governorship candidate, Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi, the APC chieftain described the report as “a blatant lie and campaign of calumny.”
He explained that the ADC candidate was related to Yari, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, and former Zamfara Governor Mahmud Shinkafi by marriage.
However, he insisted that the family relationships should not be interpreted as evidence of political sponsorship by Yari.
Shinkafi further disclosed that Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi had aspired to contest the Zamfara North Senatorial seat on the APC platform ahead of the 2027 elections but was not cleared by the party’s screening committee.
He alleged that political opponents were circulating the claims to damage Yari’s reputation and create divisions within the APC.
Shinkafi Calls for Reconciliation Within APC
The APC chieftain also addressed the political implications of Governor Dauda Lawal’s reported defection from the PDP to the APC in March 2026, saying the development had raised expectations of reconciliation among key political actors in the state.
He said Yari convened a stakeholders’ meeting to promote peace and unity within the party but alleged that some prominent figures, including the Minister of State for Defence, did not attend.
Despite the disagreements, Shinkafi maintained that the APC remained united under Yari’s leadership and expressed confidence that the former governor would mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Senator Yari is a team player and a man of enormous political sagacity. His appointment as Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council reflects national acceptance that some rivals are uncomfortable with,” he said.
Shinkafi urged members of the public to disregard what he described as false reports targeting Yari and the APC in Zamfara, insisting that the party remained strong and prepared for the 2027 general elections.
He called on party members and supporters to rally behind Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and Yari, expressing hope that their leadership would contribute to national development and a better future for the country.
