Eight members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers, including an ally of former Governor Abdul’aziz, said they decided to leave the party over insecurity, alleged injustice and other issues affecting the wellbeing of the people.

In a statement announcing their decision, the lawmakers said they could no longer remain in a political party which, according to them, had failed to provide adequate security for citizens.

They expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as the party’s inability to address challenges confronting the state, particularly the worsening security situation.

The lawmakers who resigned include Hon. Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Hon. Ibrahim Tukur Bakura, representing Bakura; Hon. Faruk Musa Dosara, representing Maradun I; and Hon. Barrister Bashir Abubakar Masama, representing Bukkuyum North.

Others are Hon. Muktaru Nasiru Kaura (Kaura North), Hon. Nasiru Abdullahi (Maru North), Hon. Bashar Bello (Bungudu West), and Hon. Bashar Aliyu (Gummi I).

Their resignation adds to the growing political developments within Zamfara APC, where internal disagreements and realignments have continued to shape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Report says the lawmakers did not immediately disclose their next political destination.

When contacted, the state APC publicity secretary, Hon. Ibrahim Danmadamin Birnin Magaji, said the party at the state level was yet to be officially notified.

“We are still waiting for their correspondence from their respective political wards after reaching their local government executives, which would later be forwarded to us,” Danmadamin said.

He added that the party had only seen the resignation letters on social media platforms like other members of the public.

“We all saw it on social media platforms, but whenever we receive the copies officially, we would communicate with you on our stand,” the party publicity secretary said.

Responding to questions on whether the development was linked to an internal crisis within the party, Danmadami said the APC was not aware of any grievances until it received copies of the resignation letters.

On their part, the resigned lawmakers accused Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration of failing to give adequate attention to insecurity affecting rural communities.

Kagara further said they decided to leave the APC because the party had failed to properly address insecurity and had allegedly turned down their earlier agreements.

“What we are challenging Governor Lawal’s administration about is even worse now compared to previous times, so we have seen no reason to continue remaining in the APC.

“Our constituents in rural areas who voted us into power to address their security concerns were not being given any attention,” Kagara said.

He also alleged that the lawmakers had gone for 32 months without receiving salaries, allowances and other benefits due to them as elected members of the state House of Assembly.

“This is our 32 months without salary, allowances and other entitlements as honourable members, and the people of Zamfara; the ball is in their court. Whether they enjoy what is happening or not, they are in the best position to take action and they need not to be told,” Kagara said.

A gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, has declared himself winner of the primary election conducted by the party.

The PDP had earlier on Tuesday conducted a rerun primary election, where Isa Ali Pantami was declared winner by Hon. Johnbull Tiemlong Shekarau-led Committee.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the election results were announced, Mailantarki declared that going by the supreme court judgement, Pantami shouldn’t have participated in the election.

“Therefore, having came second in the election, and going by the supreme court judgement which declared Pantami not eligible to contest the election, I believe that I am the winner of this primary election conducted today by our party.”

According to him, Pantami was still in the APC when they were cleared by the PDP screening committee to contest in the primary election earlier slated for May 26.

He said the election should have been contested by him and the third runner-up, Usman Aliyu Garry.

Mailantarki vowed to reclaim his mandate, even if it takes going through litigation in court.

He declared, “I am ready to go to court, even it if means going to the supreme court to reclaim my victory at the just concluded primary election.”

Recall that Mailantarki’s previous suit triggered the nullification of Pantami’s previous victory as a Federal High Court in Gombe annulled the previous exercise and ordered the conduct of a fresh primary, which held on Tuesday.

Restoration of harmony and cohesion in five state chapters ahead of the 2027 elections has taken centre stage in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Campaigns& Elections. 

The National Working Committee (NWC) has sent delegations to the troubled chapters to resolve the disputes arising from governorship, National Assembly and House of Assembly primaries.

The states are Benue, Oyo, Osun, Niger and Kwara, where the party has been hit by litigations, defections and threats of defections by aggrieved chieftains.

During its retreat at the weekend in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, the national leadership did a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of the party across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as part of its preparations for the 2027 general election.

National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said the retreat brought together for the first time the members of the NWC and the National Executive Committee (NEC).

He said the two organs reasoned that reconciliation of aggrieved members is a major step in the party’s preparations for the polls.

In Oyo State, supporters of former Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, have not teamed up with the governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, after the shadow poll.

In Kwara, a crisis erupted between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and a former governorship aspirant, Senator Saliu Mustapha, over the emergence of House of Assembly Speaker Saliu Yakubu Danladi as candidate.

Following the collapse of his governorship and senatorial ambitions in the APC, Mustapha defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he picked the senatorial ticket for Kwara Central.

Some other members of the APC who believed they were not carried along in the choice of governorship candidate have also not reconciled with the governor.

The situation brought bad blood between Governor AbdulRazaq and PDP National Leader Nyesom Wike.

The Benue chapter is also polarised by the crisis of confidence between Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, over the outcome of primaries.

Although concerted efforts have been made to bring the two camps together, both sides have refused to close ranks.

In Osun, APC went to the August governorship poll as a divided party, and became more divided after its defeat by Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord.

In Niger, the outcome of the primaries generated bitterness.

Aggrieved members are threatening to defect should the national leadership fail to intervene.

Basiru said the party noted the unfinished business of reconciliation, adding that it cannot be taken with levity.

He said: “In the NWC, winning elections is our work. There were robust discussions on how to strengthen the party where we are weak and consolidate where we are strong.

“We also accord priority to reconciliation. We have been to Oyo and Niger. We have identified Benue, Kwara and Osun. NWC has resolved to send representations. We have also made recommendations to the president.”

However, the National Secretary said although APC is battling with 153 litigations from across the country, the number is lower than those of previous electioneering.

Crucial decisions taken at the retreat include the choice of Oladiran Iyantan, a chieftain from Ondo State, as National Vice Chairman (Southwest), as a replacement for Dr Isaacs Kekemeke, who is now senatorial candidate for Ondo South, and modalities for the choice of party agents.