Our Villa Visit Not APC Return – Suspended Zamfara Lawmakers

The eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have denied reports that they have defected back to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers, who spoke through their spokesman and member representing Bakura Constituency, Hon. Ibrahim Tukur Bakura, said their visit to the Presidential Villa was to discuss issues surrounding their suspension and pending entitlements and not to return to the APC.

This comes as the Zamfara State Police Command yesterday held a peace accord signing and election security summit for chairmen and candidates of registered political parties contesting governorship, National and State Assembly elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The event, which was held at the Tola Arena in Gusau, brought together party leaders, candidates, security agencies and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile, speaking exclusively to LEADERSHIP, Bakura said, “We have not returned to APC.

We only discussed our problems with the President.”

He described reports in some online platforms that they had returned to the APC as false and misleading.

“Neither have we decamped to the APC nor promised to return to the APC. What took us to the Villa was to discuss the problem of why we were suspended, our pending entitlements and how to resolve it,” he said.

Bakura added that if they decide to officially return to the APC, there would be a formal press briefing.

“If we decide to return to the APC officially, I will personally call Leadership and other important media houses and brief them,” he added.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the eight lawmakers who recently resigned from the APC met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Monday.

They were led to the Villa by the Minister of State for Defence and former Governor of Zamfara State, Dr Bello Matawalle.

According to a statement by Matawalle’s media aide, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, the lawmakers reaffirmed their loyalty to the party and their support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The affected 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).

They were suspended on February 26, 2024, over allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy, contempt of the House and convening an illegal sitting in violation of the Standing Orders. The suspension was extended on May 13, 2026.

The Speaker of the House, Hon. Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki, had said the suspension predated their political decision and arose from disciplinary matters within the House.

Peace Accord Signing for Parties

The Zamfara State Police Command has held a peace accord signing and election security summit for chairmen and candidates of registered political parties contesting governorship, National and State Assembly elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Addressing participants, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad Muhammad Bello, said the summit was convened in line with the directive of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to ensure a peaceful, credible and violence-free electoral process.

CP Bello warned that the Command would deal decisively with anyone found inciting violence, engaged in vote buying, thuggery or destruction of opponents’ campaign materials.

“We are public servants, not public bosses, but we will not tolerate lawlessness. Zamfara is the most troubled state in the North West and we cannot afford to add electoral violence to banditry. Every candidate must caution his supporters. We have tactical teams deployed across the 14 LGAs and intelligence gathering has been intensified,” he said.

He urged political actors to embrace dialogue, avoid hate speech and report threats early to the Command through its emergency lines.

He added that the peace accord signing is binding and that breach would attract prosecution under the Electoral Act.

In their separate remarks, candidates pledged to abide by the accord and cooperate with security agencies to protect lives and property during campaigns.

The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state called for a level playing ground and urged the police to remain neutral and professional.

Representatives of other parties including the Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), National Democratic Congress (NDC) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) also signed the accord and assured that they would sensitise their supporters in rural areas, especially volatile corridors like Gusau-Dansadau, Kaura Namoda, Bukkuyum and Maradun.

The Command said copies of the signed accord would be displayed at the State Headquarters and forwarded to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state for record purposes.