Call your Minister to order – APC Chieftain tells President Tinubu, National Chairman

A former governorship candidate in Zamfara State, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, to caution the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, over what he described as divisive political actions threatening the unity of the APC in Zamfara State.

In a statement issued on Friday, Shinkafi warned that the party risks suffering another electoral defeat in 2027 if Matawalle continues his alleged “divide-and-rule” approach, which he said had already forced several prominent members to leave the party.

The APC chieftain, who served as a member of the Tinubu–Shettima Presidential Campaign Council in 2023, accused Matawalle of turning his ministerial office into a political base aimed at consolidating personal influence.

According to him, the minister has been “dissipating energy and resources fighting prominent leaders of the party in the state in an attempt to hijack all party structures and continue his divide-and-rule tactic.”

“It is worrisome that Matawalle who ought to use his position as former governor and current Minister of State for Defence to unite, stabilize and strengthen APC in Zamfara State is the person causing disaffection amongst party members ahead of the 2027 general election having failed to learn from his politics of bitterness and vendetta that factionalized the party and led to his defeat as a sitting governor by the Peoples Democratic Party’s Dauda Lawal,” he said.

Shinkafi accused the minister of prioritizing personal ambition over party unity, warning that such behavior undermines President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Instead of an intensive membership drive, Bello Matawalle has been busy chasing shadows in a vicious cycle. This infantile politics must stop if APC should regain Zamfara State in 2027. There has been a national clamour for inclusive politics and governance in Nigeria which is part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, in Zamfara APC, the reverse is the case. It is unacceptable, undemocratic and retrogressive.”

The former governorship candidate further alleged that Matawalle has been “sowing seeds of discord” within the party, accusing several APC leaders of anti-party activities.

“Frustrated over the failure of his second term bid as governor, Matawalle has been sowing seeds of discord amongst APC members in the state. He accused Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji and his supporters of anti-party activities in 2023 which forced Jaji to constitute a factional APC leadership in the state led by Isiyaka Ajiya Anka. Similarly, Senator Kabiru Mafara created another APC factional leadership led by Alh. Sirajo Maikatako.”

He said his decision to withdraw from some party activities was to avoid internal conflicts.

“I decided to detach myself from some APC activities, particularly those associated with a former governor. It is to avoid unnecessary confrontations and factionalizations of APC in the state,” he noted.

Shinkafi added that despite these efforts, Matawalle and his supporters “keep confronting critical stakeholders of the party including former governors Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, Ahmad Sani Yerima, Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi, Hon Abdulmalik Zubairu Zanna and Muhktar Shehu Idris.”

He also alleged attempts on his life linked to political rivalries in the state.

“In August 2025, I narrowly escaped the second attempt on my life while returning from Friday Mosque prayers in Abuja. Clues from the dastardly action showed it was politically motivated by reactionary forces in Zamfara State.”

Shinkafi accused the minister of using his official position for partisan advantage, saying:

“Matawalle now uses his ministry’s office to receive fellow APC members who switch camp from one leader to his side including supporters of Hon. Amin Sani Jaji, Senator Kabiru Mafara, Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari and Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, all from the APC family.

“It is ignoble for a minister of the Federal Republic to turn his office to a personal campaign office where he receives inter-party and intra-party decampees.

“The war against terrorism, insurgency, armed banditry, militancy, secession, kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery and cultism should pre-occupy the minds of any Minister of Defence and his junior minister as the security and welfare of the people are the primary purpose of government.

“It is why I raise an alarm and urge Mr President and APC national chairman to intervene and call Bello Matawalle to order before it is too late.”

Shinkafi’s statement comes amid deepening divisions within the Zamfara APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, with rival factions blaming one another for the party’s 2023 loss to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.