Eight members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have resigned their membership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, citing insecurity, alleged injustice and other concerns affecting the wellbeing of residents.
The lawmakers, including an ally of former Governor Abdul’aziz Yari, announced their decision in a statement, saying they could no longer remain in a party which they alleged had failed to adequately address the security challenges confronting the state.
They expressed particular concern over the worsening insecurity in Zamfara, accusing the party and the state government of failing to provide sufficient attention to the plight of residents, especially those living in rural communities.
The lawmakers who resigned are Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Ibrahim Tukur Bakura, representing Bakura; Faruk Musa Dosara, representing Maradun I; and Bashir Abubakar Masama, representing Bukkuyum North.
Others are Muktaru Nasiru Kaura, representing Kaura North; Nasiru Abdullahi, representing Maru North; Bashar Bello, representing Bungudu West; and Bashar Aliyu, representing Gummi I.
Their resignation comes amid continuing political realignments within the Zamfara APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The lawmakers did not immediately disclose their next political destination.
However, the state APC Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Danmadamin Birnin Magaji, said the party had yet to receive official notification of the lawmakers’ resignation.
“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 said the party had only seen the resignation letters on social media, adding that its position would be communicated after receiving the documents through the appropriate channels.
“We all saw it on social media platforms, but whenever we receive the copies officially, we would communicate with you on our stand,” he said.
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Asked whether the development was connected to an internal crisis within the party, Danmadami said the APC was unaware of the lawmakers’ grievances until the resignation letters became public.
One of the lawmakers, Kagara, however, accused Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration of failing to adequately address insecurity in rural communities.
He said the lawmakers had decided to leave the APC because concerns previously raised with the party and government had not been sufficiently addressed.
“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,” Kagara said.
“Our constituents in rural areas who voted us into power to address their security concerns were not being given any attention,” he added.
Kagara also alleged that the lawmakers had gone for 32 months without receiving salaries, allowances and other entitlements due to them as elected members of the state legislature.
“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,” he said.
A party official who spoke on condition of anonymity also said he did not blame the lawmakers for leaving the APC, alleging that efforts to reconcile them with the governor had failed.
“I don’t blame them, and they did the right thing, as the governor chose not to reconcile with them despite all efforts to ensure they remained in the APC,” the official said.
Governor Lawal has not publicly responded to the allegations.
However, reports indicated that the lawmakers had previously been suspended by the party over allegations that they attempted to impeach the Speaker of the House of Assembly about a year ago.