Eight members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have resigned their membership of the All Progressives Congress, citing worsening insecurity, alleged injustice and prolonged non-payment of their entitlements.
The lawmakers, including Aliyu Ango Kagara, an ally of former Governor Abdul’aziz Yari, announced their exit from the ruling party in separate resignation letters, amid growing political realignments in the state ahead of the 2027 elections.
Those who resigned are Kagara, representing 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.
The lawmakers said their decision was largely driven by concerns over the security situation in Zamfara, particularly the continued attacks on rural communities, which they claimed had not received sufficient attention from the government.
Kagara, while explaining the decision, alleged that the lawmakers had spent 32 months without receiving their salaries, allowances and other statutory benefits.
He said, “What we are challenging Governor Lawal’s administration about is even worse now compared to previous times, so we have seen no reason to continue remaining in the APC.”
According to him, constituents in rural communities had elected the lawmakers to address their concerns, particularly insecurity, but their pleas had allegedly been ignored.
The lawmaker also claimed that previous agreements reached with the party had not been honoured, further contributing to their decision to quit.
However, the state APC publicity secretary, Ibrahim Danmadamin Birnin Magaji, said the party had yet to receive official notification of the lawmakers’ resignations.
He explained that the resignation letters would have to pass through the lawmakers’ respective wards and local government party structures before reaching the state leadership.
Danmadami said the APC had only seen copies of the resignation letters circulating on social media and would state its position after receiving them officially.
He also said the party was unaware of any grievances that could have led to the lawmakers’ departure until the resignation letters were received.
The development comes amid continued internal disagreements and political manoeuvring within the Zamfara APC as political actors position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A party source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, said the lawmakers’ decision was understandable, alleging that efforts to reconcile them with Governor Dauda Lawal had failed.
The source claimed that the governor had chosen to work with other political actors rather than reconcile with the affected lawmakers.
The governor had yet to respond to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
The lawmakers were reportedly already under suspension by the APC before announcing their resignation. They were said to have been suspended over alleged involvement in an attempt to remove the Speaker of the state House of Assembly about a year ago.
The eight lawmakers have not disclosed which political party they intend to join.
