A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has denied allegations that former Zamfara state governor, Abdul'aziz Yari, is backing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi. Shinkafi described the claims as false, stating that opponents are trying to tarnish Yari's reputation after his appointment as Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to Shinkafi, Bilyaminu's relationship with Yari through marriage has been misrepresented to suggest that the former governor is sponsoring his governorship ambition. Bilyaminu is a cousin of Yari's wife, who is a daughter of the late Umaru Shinkafi. Shinkafi explained that Bilyaminu had previously sought the APC ticket for the Zamfara North Senatorial District but was not cleared by the party's screening committee.
Shinkafi alleged that some political actors are uncomfortable with Yari's appointment to lead President Bola Tinubu's re-election campaign and have resorted to spreading misinformation against the former governor. He expressed confidence that Yari would remain committed to Tinubu's re-election bid and urged the public to disregard claims that the former governor was secretly supporting an opposition candidate.
Shinkafi also rejected reports linking Yari to eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly who recently resigned from the APC. The lawmakers were suspended on February 26, 2024, over allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy, mischief, contempt of the Assembly, and holding an unauthorized sitting.
The suspended lawmakers include Aliyu Ango Kagara, Ibrahim Tukur Bakura, Faruk Musa Dosara, Bashir Abubakar Masama, Muktaru Nasiru Kaura, Nasiru Abdullahi, Bashar Bello, and Bashar Aliyu. Shinkafi maintained that the lawmakers could not be described as Yari's political allies, noting that five of the eight legislators were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections before defecting to the APC.
Shinkafi disclosed that attempts by Yari and other party stakeholders to resolve the dispute had failed, leaving the lawmakers without their salaries, allowances, and other legislative entitlements. The affected legislators had petitioned the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions for intervention over the lingering dispute.
Shinkafi reiterated his support for Yari's leadership of the APC presidential campaign, describing the former governor as an experienced politician capable of mobilizing support for Tinubu's second-term ambition. He appealed to Governor Dauda Lawal and the Assembly leadership to find a political solution to the dispute and address the outstanding entitlements of the affected lawmakers.
Key points
- APC chieftain Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi denies allegations that former Zamfara governor Abdul'aziz Yari supports ADC's Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi.
