The internal crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State has intensified with the emergence of a new faction loyal to Aminu Sani Jaji, a House of Representatives member, Daily Trust reports.
This development complicates the reconciliation efforts between the long-standing factions led by Senator Kabir Garba Marafa and Senator Abubakar Abdulaziz Yari, which have persisted since 2019 and cost the party the governorship at the Supreme Court.
In the lead-up to the 2023 elections, APC leaders initiated reconciliation efforts aimed at securing a second term for then Governor Bello Matawalle that initially saw Marafa and Yari back together. However, following Matawalle’s defeat, the crisis re-emerged and worsened with the formation of Jaji’s faction, adding to Marafa’s resurrected group and presenting a challenge to Matawalle’s leadership, which began after his 2021 defection.
Jaji’s faction, led by Honourable Aminu Abubakar MC, last week announced a change in the leadership of the party, appointing Isiyaka Ajiya Anka as the new acting state chairman after suspending Alhaji Tukur Danfulani.
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But the state APC dismissed this move as an attempt to destabilise the party. State Publicity Secretary, Mallam Yusuf Idris, criticised this action as unconstitutional, asserting the leadership’s commitment to unity under Matawalle, with support from key stakeholders like Senators Yari, Ahmed Sani Yarima, and Alhaji Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi.
Justifying their breakaway, Jaji’s supporters argue that the rift began when Matawalle allegedly undermined Jaji’s bid for the Speakership of the 10th House of Representatives, perceiving it as a threat to his own leadership.
According to a source close to Jaji, who preferred not to be mentioned, the lawmaker was accused of anti-party activities during the last general election by some politicians close to Matawalle, and there was no attempt to verify these allegations before they allegedly scuttled Jaji’s chances of becoming the speaker.
“This rivalry between Matawalle and Jaji gave birth to the parallel APC executive in the state. Rep. Jaji allegedly sponsored a section of the party exco from Galadimawa ward to impeach the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Tukur Danfulani, over alleged political romance with the incumbent governor of the state, Dauda Lawal of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP),” another stakeholder of the party, who asked not to be named, added.
In retaliation, the Matawalle-led faction, through the party’s publicity secretary, Yusuf Idris, suspended Jaji from the party, citing anti-party activities, illegal meetings, and disrespect for the party. According to a source, seven petitions against Jaji were sent to the state and zonal headquarters by the Matawalle-led faction.
Former governors move to reconcile factions
Disturbed by the lingering crisis, the former governors of the state—Senator Ahmad Sani Yarima, Alhaji Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, Senator Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, and Alhaji Muhammad Bello Matawalle—met in Abuja about two months ago to discuss the way out of the crisis.
After the meeting, the governors resolved to approach the party’s national body and seek a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Besides these plans, the governors issued a statement appealing to party followers to remain united and work for the progress of the party.
The APC national body later constituted a committee to review the Zamfara crisis and come up with recommendations for successful reconciliation among warring factions.
However, while supporters of the party in the state await the outcome of this initiative, Marafa and Jaji have revived their factional activities.
Earlier this month, Marafa, in a meeting with his supporters in Kaduna, expressed dismay with the current happenings in the party.
Sen. Marafa, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, alleged that the APC leadership in the state is colluding with other party chieftains in the interest of Matawalle and Yari. “As APC members, we have not been carried along by the APC leadership in the state. The leadership is only dancing to the tune of two politicians, and they think they can succeed in applying divide-and-rule methods,” he said.
Marafa stated that after they scheduled their meeting, the APC Zamfara State chapter set up their own meetings at both state and local government levels, but he and his supporters were not invited. He questioned the sincerity of the party’s commitment to unity, suggesting that their exclusion indicates a lack of genuine effort to promote peace and cohesion among members.
Similarly, the Jaji-led faction of the party, at a press conference in Gusau, where they reaffirmed the suspension of the APC state chairman, Alhaji Tukur Danfulani, and announced Anka as acting chairman and the Zamfara North secretary of the party, Alhaji Mansur Khalifa Kaura, as acting APC state secretary, also said the APC stakeholder meeting was not done in good faith because of the non-invitation of Jaji as one of the stakeholders of the party in the state.
But while many are still worried about the apparent silence from the camp of Senator Yari, who until 2021 was the leader of the party, one of his close political associates, Alhaji Ibrahim Birnin Magaji, said, “As far as we are concerned, the APC in Zamfara State is one entity. I don’t know any factions within the APC. The party has no factions in Zamfara. Those agitating for factional APC know better why they are doing it.
“Sen. Yari is ready to work with all party stakeholders willing to move the party and the state to greater heights. Yari’s intention is to see the APC grow stronger. Anybody that can toe towards this direction can work harmoniously with Yari to promote peace and unity among party followers in the state.”
A political associate of Matawalle, who requested anonymity, said the minister has done everything within his powers to reconcile the party members in Zamfara, but some politicians refuse to allow peace to reign for their interests. “The former governor was the brain behind the meeting held by the former governors of the state in May. He is willing to restore unity and peace to the APC, but such a move cannot be done by just one person; it needs support from other stakeholders,” he said.
Pundits believe while Zamfara APC members await the national leadership’s intervention, the party remains divided, with Matawalle, Marafa, and now Jaji pulling the strings behind the scenes while Yari’s next moves may act as the joker.
In a state already bedevilled with increased bandit activity, the reconciliation moves between the political juggernauts face significant challenges as the factions continue to assert their authority, making it uncertain when or if unity will ever be achieved.
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