THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State is facing a fresh crisis after nine members of the state House of Assembly reportedly defected from the party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing insecurity, internal divisions, alleged injustice and poor governance.
The latest defections came barely seven months after Governor Dauda Lawal moved from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, taking the state’s political structure with him and turning the ruling party into the dominant political force in Zamfara.
The lawmakers are Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Muktar Nasir, representing Kaura Namoda North; Faruk Dosara Musa, representing Maradun I; Basiru Bello, representing Bungudu West; Bashir A. Masama, representing Bukkuyum North; Ibrahim T. Tukur, representing Bakura; Nasiru Abdullahi, representing Maru North; Yusuf Muhammad Anka, representing Anka; and Bashar Aliyu, representing Gummi I.
The lawmakers’ exit was first reported by several outlets on October 4, with the number initially reported as six or eight. By October 5, several other platforms reported that nine lawmakers had dumped the APC for the ADC.
The development is the latest in a series of political drama that have repeatedly reshaped the APC in Zamfara.
The ICIR reports that a former governor of the state, Abdul’aziz Yari, is the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, which seeks President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in January 2027.
Why are they leaving?
In separate resignation letters dated October 4, the lawmakers cited similar reasons for leaving the APC.
They complained of what they described as a lack of unity among APC stakeholders, injustice, uncertainty and the inability of the government to overcome insecurity in their constituencies and the state.
Some also accused the governor of a “nonchalant attitude” and poor leadership.
Kagara, who spoke on behalf of the lawmakers, said their disagreement with the governor had lasted for more than two years and was rooted largely in insecurity.
He said the lawmakers had raised concerns about the security situation on the floor of the House, but their action allegedly resulted in a disagreement with the governor and their eventual suspension.
Kagara also alleged that the lawmakers had gone 32 months without receiving salaries, allowances and other entitlements.
“This is our 32 months without salary, allowances and other entitlements as honourable members,” he said.
He claimed that joining the APC did not resolve their grievances, alleging that some party leaders later conspired against the lawmakers and denied them a fair hearing.
APC says it was unaware of defectors grievances
The Zamfara APC has disputed the suggestion that it was aware of the lawmakers’ plan to leave the party.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji, said the APC had only seen the resignation letters on social media and was waiting for the lawmakers’ correspondence to be transmitted through their wards and local government structures.
He also said the party was unaware of any grievances from the lawmakers before the resignation letters surfaced online.
The position highlights the widening gap between the lawmakers and the party leadership, particularly as the APC prepares for the 2027 elections.
Backstory
The latest crisis might not be unconnected with the lawmakers’ earlier battle with the leadership of the state legislature.
The Zamfara State House of Assembly suspended eight lawmakers indefinitely on February 26, 2024, following allegations that they held an unauthorised sitting and attempted to create a parallel legislative process.
At the time, the House said the lawmakers were accused of attempting to cause a misunderstanding within the legislature by conducting an illegal plenary.
But the suspended lawmakers offered a different account.
In March 2024, they said they had been targeted after raising concerns about worsening insecurity in Zamfara. They also alleged that political thugs had attacked some of them and that they were forced into hiding.
The dispute has remained unresolved.
Reacting to the latest defection, Speaker Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki said the lawmakers had actually been suspended long before their political move.
According to him, the suspension followed allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy, mischief, contempt of the House, forceful entry into Assembly offices, destruction of public property, and the convening of an unauthorised sitting.
Moriki said the House extended their suspension on May 13, 2026, because the disciplinary issues remained unresolved.
He also said a criminal complaint had been instituted over the alleged misconduct.
The Speaker rejected the suggestion that the defections demonstrated instability in the legislature, saying the House remained functional.
Long-standing crisis
The latest crisis is particularly significant because Zamfara’s entire political structure had only recently swung behind the APC.
In March 2026, Lawal defected from the PDP to the APC, citing the prolonged legal and leadership crisis within the opposition party.
The move was followed by the defection of the Speaker and 12 other members of the Zamfara Assembly from the PDP to the APC. At the time, the development meant all 24 members of the state legislature were in the APC.
The Speaker said the move was intended to align the legislature with the governor and strengthen cooperation with the Federal Government.
Their defection in December 2025, followed the defection of the eight members of the Assembly, who were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
Zamfara: Resign if you’re dissatisfied with my administration — Lawal tells appointees
Meanwhile, on October 4, the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal told dissatisfied political appointees that they could resign if they felt they were not benefiting from his administration.
Lawal said this while responding to complaints from some party stakeholders.
“There are some political office holders who complain that they have not gotten anything. That is not true. Even among the commissioners, anyone who feels he is not getting anything should resign,” Lawal said.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M