Zamfara APC Crisis Deepens as 8 Lawmakers Quit Party Amid Long-Standing Assembly Dispute
Zamfara APC Crisis Deepens as 8 Lawmakers Quit Party Amid Long-Standing Assembly Dispute
By Akin Alade
The political crisis within the Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a new dimension following the resignation of eight members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, with the lawmakers citing insecurity, alleged injustice and unpaid salaries and allowances as reasons for their decision.
The development has, however, triggered a fresh controversy after the Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki, disclosed that the affected lawmakers had been suspended from the House long before their latest political move. According to the Speaker, their suspension dates back to February 26, 2024, following allegations of gross misconduct and violations of the Assembly’s Standing Orders.
The lawmakers who announced their resignation include Aliyu Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Ibrahim Bakura, representing Bakura; Faruk Dosara, representing Maradun I; Bashir Masama, representing Bukkuyum North; Muktaru Kaura, representing Kaura North; Nasiru Abdullahi, representing Maru North; Bashar Bello, representing Bungudu West; and Bashar Aliyu, representing Gummi I.
In explaining their decision, the lawmakers accused the APC-led political structure in Zamfara of failing to adequately respond to the security challenges confronting residents, particularly people living in rural communities. They also complained about what they described as prolonged non-payment of their salaries, allowances and other entitlements, with Kagara alleging that the lawmakers had gone for 32 months without receiving their benefits.
But the Speaker has offered a different interpretation of the development, insisting that the resignation should not be viewed as evidence of instability within the Assembly. Moriki said the lawmakers had already been suspended over allegations including gross misconduct, conspiracy, contempt of the House, destruction of public property and allegedly convening an unauthorised sitting.
According to the Speaker, the disciplinary action was not connected to the lawmakers’ present decision to leave the APC. He said the allegations had also resulted in a criminal complaint before a court of competent jurisdiction, while the House subsequently extended the suspension for another legislative session on May 13, 2026, because the disciplinary issues remained unresolved.
The latest development therefore places the focus beyond party defection and squarely on the unresolved relationship between the lawmakers and the leadership of the Zamfara Assembly. The Speaker maintains that the House remains functional, with 16 active members participating in legislative proceedings, and has rejected suggestions that the resignation of the eight lawmakers has paralysed the legislature.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara APC leadership says it has yet to receive the lawmakers’ resignation letters through the appropriate party structures. The party’s state publicity secretary, Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji, said the documents had only been seen on social media and that the party would make its position known after receiving the letters officially.
The controversy could further reshape Zamfara’s political landscape as parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections. For now, the eight lawmakers have not publicly announced their next political destination, leaving open questions about whether their resignation will trigger further realignments within Zamfara politics.
