Kabiru Garba Marafa, former senator for Zamfara Central, has officially split from the All Progressives Congress (APC
), calling out President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as a "use-and-dump" leadership style. Marafa, who was pivotal in securing Tinubu's victory in Zamfara during the 2023 presidential election, feels the state has been betrayed and marginalized under Tinubu’s administration despite its loyalty and contributions.
Marafa’s frustration stems from several grievances. First, Zamfara received only a *Minister of State appointment*, while other Northwest states, including those where Tinubu lost, bagged two substantive ministerial slots. Even Lagos, which didn’t deliver for Tinubu, has allegedly enjoyed far more federal attention and developmental projects. Meanwhile, Zamfara has been left grappling with worsening insecurity—reportedly topping Nigeria’s kidnapping charts in 2024 with *1,203 abductions out of 4,722 nationwide*. Recent attacks on 25 villages led to 145 kidnappings and 21 deaths in a single week, yet federal intervention has been minimal. ¹ ² ³
Adding salt to the wound, Marafa’s political structure, spanning *147 wards* across Zamfara, has accused Tinubu and APC leadership of sidelining them and abandoning the party’s founding principles of *justice, fairness, and inclusiveness*. The group also slammed the politicization of insecurity, alleging that security forces were deployed not to protect lives but to secure APC’s victory during a bye-election—only for attacks to resume immediately after. ⁴ ⁵ ⁶
In response, Marafa and his supporters gathered for a two-day meeting in Kaduna, where they unanimously resolved to resign from the APC. While their next political move remains unclear, the group emphasized that it would be guided by the collective interests of Zamfara’s people. Marafa summed it up bluntly: “We refuse to be used and discarded. Our people deserve better.” ⁷ ⁸ ⁶
This defection highlights growing cracks within the APC, especially in Northern regions. It’s a bold move that may reshape Zamfara’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections. What do you think—will this shake things up for Tinubu, or is it just another political drama? 👀
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