As political activities kick off across the country in preparation for the 2027 polls, things are shaping up in Zamfara State. Northern Bureau Chief, MUHAMMAD SABIU, examines the contenders and pretenders in the race for the Zamfara Government House amid the defection rumour of Gov Dauda Lawal.
POLITICS is shaping up in Zamfara State, ahead of the 2027 elections and the vibrations are being felt by all segments of that society. This is because the unfolding scenario is pitching bigwigs against themselves, even as the incumbent governor, Dauda Lawal, is caught in the web of confusion over the political platform to adopt for his re-election bid.
With the release of the schedule of activities for the next election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political activities have started gaining momentum in the state. Aspirants vying for positions under existing political parties have started consultations, reaching out to party stalwarts and members. The foot soldiers are not left out.
Findings by Nigerian Tribune indicate that five aspirants vying for the governorship ticket under the All Progressives Congress (APC) have surfaced, and these are Aminu Sani Jaji, Sani Abdullahi (Wambai) , Bello Matawalle, Muktar Shehu Idris, and Abdulmalik Zubairu.
Front runners
However, out of the five, from the findings conducted by the Nigerian Tribune, at least three aspirants are the front runners. One of the prominent aspirants is the current Minister of State for Defence and former governor of the state, Bello Muhammad Matawalle.
Matawalle, who was once governor of the state, lost to Governor Lawal. Though a minister, he wants to complete his second term.
Investigation revealed that since 2025, he has begun consultations with stakeholders with different blocs of the party in both the state and national levels. A close aide of the Minister, Musa Malafiya, said he had equally reached out to Senator Abdul Aziz Yari, being one of the political juggernauts in the state and a member of the APC.
Muktar Shehu Idris, who holds the traditional title of Kogunan Gusau, is another top contender who is believed to have the support of Senator Abdulaziz Yari. Considered a top ally of the former Zamfara governor, he served Yari as the commissioner for Finance and a member of the kitchen cabinet.
As a trusted ally, Yari supported and financed his gubernatorial ambition in 2019, which he eventually won. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court verdict gave the ticket to his arch-rival Matawalle. His sudden appearance could therefore not be accidental; he must have been given the nod by his political godfather, Senator Yari, to contest again.
Most of those who are now mobilising for his return were Yari’s former appointees and political allies. A former appointee, Sani Garba Gusau, remarked, “When I was invited to come for his meeting, I knew it was my former boss, Yari. I don’t need a second thought.”
Abdulmalik Zubairu, considered one of Yari’s core allies, is also a strong contender. A former staff of local government and former chairman NULGE, a grassroots mobilizer, he is one of the very few APC candidates who won his election to represent Bungudu/Maru in the Federal House of Representatives.
Strengths and weaknesses of contenders
For Bello Muhammad Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence, his strong points are not far-fetched from the fact that being a member of the ruling APC can give him an edge to clinch the party’s ticket. Another point is, he is not a greenhorn to the office. He was a former governor. Already, he has a formidable structure and the financial might to woo party members.
His strong alliance with a former governor of the state, Senator Abdul Aziz Yari, is also an added advantage to his ambition. A close party source who pleaded anonymity contended that strategic meetings were held several times between the duo, and a mutual consensus was agreed to allow the Minister to become the flagbearer of the party in 2027.
It was gathered that since he once held sway as a governor, his weaknesses could be easily assessed. His critics were of the view that he should concentrate his activities at the national level and leave the state. Political analyst abreast with the politics of the state argued, “When he was the governor, civil servants were left without salaries, pensions were not paid, school teachers’ welfare packages were worst. Governance suffered the most.”
In addition analysts alleged thus “Look at the cargo airport, which millions were said to have been sunk, but what did we see until the administration of Dauda Lawal came to rescue the situation? Hopefully, we are hoping that by March 31st, a new airport will be commissioned.”
For Muktar Shehu Idris, his strength lies in the fact that he is being supported by Senator Abdul Aziz Yari. Findings revealed that he inherited the political structure used by Yari. So, getting the ticket may not be difficult for him. A quiet and financial wizard, his supporters and members of the APC have high hopes that he could perform if given the mandate.
According to his supporter, Bashir Dallatu: “We are supporting Koguna because, among those aspiring, he is the most educated. The state needs a governor with a university degree to move the state forward.”
His weaknesses are that people saw in him a quiet person. “At this point in our history, Zamfara needs someone who could call the shots without looking at the faces of anyone. I believe he’s not the right person for the job,” said a critic.
Being an ally of Senator Yari, pundits believe he can’t independently take a decision without the support or blessings of Yari. They argued that if he comes back, it is Yari coming back to complete his third term.
His critics also said he’s reserved, as he doesn’t associate with people or party members. According to them: “Since 2019, when the Supreme Court retrieved its mandate, we have not heard of him till now, saying, what is he coming to do?”
Also, he’s been criticised as someone who is afraid of spending. A party member, Sani Maradun, said: “How many people enjoy his wealth? What are his contributions to the party? Nothing. We know those who are spending and supporting the party and its members.”
For Abdulmalik Zubairu, who holds the traditional title of Zannan Bungudu and is a serving member of the House of Representatives, he is seen as a grassroots politician and a mobilizer, who is popular with party members, especially the youths and women.
Findings revealed also that he has the support of some of the party’s elders and stakeholders. He is also seen as one of Yari’s political godsons, who has been supporting the party and its members. He became more prominent when he supervised the party’s victory at the recently concluded House of Assembly election in Kaura Namoda, where the APC candidate defeated the candidate of the ruling PDP in the state.
Regarded as a big spender, he carries the hope of the teeming youths. As one of Yari’s allies, critics also see him as somebody who will also dance to the tune of the former governor of the state, Senator Abdul Aziz Yari.
Party’s division
Recall that the ruling APC has dominated the political landscape since the return of civilian administration in the state. For instance, they were in power from 1999-2008 when the former governor of the state, Mahmoud Aliyu Shinkafi, who won under the defunct ANPP, decided to defect to PDP.
Again, in 2011, ANPP, led by the former governor of the state, Senator Ahmed Sani, superintended the election of Yari as governor. The party lost again in 2019 due to internal squabbles, and they paid dearly for it, and the apex court gave the mandate, won by Muktar Shehu Idris, to PDP, and Bello Muhammad Matawalle won. But he later defected to APC.
But again, in 2023, PDP candidate Dauda Lawal defeated APC’s candidate Matawalle. Since the defeat, the APC has remained a strong and formidable opposition in the state. This is possible because they have a minister and a serving senator. In addition to several other prominent politicians who have held several positions in the past.
But what is apparent is the scenario which happened in 2019, most especially in 2023, that led to the party losing power to PDP. The division in the party between five camps is very prominent. Findings revealed that there exist the Jaji’s camp, Wambai Shinkafi’s camp, Matawalle camp, Yari’s camp, as well as Marafa’s camp.
According to an elder and party stalwart, Sani Takori, this is not a good omen. He noted that “we all saw what happened during the last local government election in the state, where APC failed to present candidates, giving room to PDP to clinch all the 14 Local government chairmanship positions.”
Taking a cursory look at the just concluded Party’s E-registration, the Jaji camp addressed a press conference, crying that its supporters were deliberately sidelined. The same with Shinkafi’s camp, who also complained of being marginalized. The same fate was metted to Marafa’s camp, who was said to have left the party, but he could be working underground to sabotage the party.
It will be recalled that it was Senator Kabir Marafa, a member of APC, who took Senator Yari to court to challenge the then APC’s primaries, which later became the party’s albatross. Findings revealed that the same scenario is playing out, as most of those complaining of being marginalized are yet to get justice.
But the state Public Secretary, Yusuf Idris Gusau, maintained that the allegations are baseless. He said: “every member of the party has been given the chance to participate in the E-registration. He also said there’s no rancor in the party, insisting that APC will pick a popular and formidable candidate to fly the party’s ticket come 2027.
Gov Dauda’s rumored defection
Amidst the seeming internal crisis in Zamfara is the rumoured defection of the governor of the state to APC. This is seen as a move that will change the political calculations. When the deal is done, automatically, based on the party’s norm, the governor will become the leader of the party in the state and may eventually clinch the party’s ticket.
But speaking in an interview, a chieftain and party stalwart, Musa Malafiya Mada, said there’s no automatic ticket for him if he eventually defects to APC. He said, “The governor has to participate in the primaries.”
On whether his defection will affect the chance of Matawalle, Malafiya contended that Matawalle is not the only one who has expressed his political ambition; we have many who have declared their interest. The defection of the governor is just an addition to the number of those interested.