The Zamfara State Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organisation in the 2023 presidential election, Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of reneging on campaign promises and describing him as a “use-and-dump leader.”
Marafa announced his exit alongside his entire political structure in Zamfara State during a meeting of his consultative forum held in Kaduna from Wednesday to Thursday.
The former lawmaker represented Zamfara Central in the National Assembly between 2011 and 2019. He was one of Tinubu’s most vocal allies during the 2023 election and had assured the then-presidential candidate that he would deliver Zamfara to him without Tinubu needing to campaign in the state.
At the end of the Kaduna meeting, a two-point communique was issued by the Senator Kabiru Marafa Consultative Forum, signed by Comrade Bashir Muhammad Mafara (Chairman), Dr. Mannir Bature Tsafe (Secretary), and other members including Hon. Muzakkiru Sidi Bawa, Hon. Hussaini Dan Isah, Engr. Ibrahim Jekada Dansadau, Engr. Sani Garba Gusau, Hon. Bello Soja Bakyasuwa, and Mansur M. Haruna.
The communique declared:
“After broad consultations and critical review of the prevailing circumstances, the political structure of Distinguished Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa OFR, CON across the 147 wards in Zamfara State unanimously resolved as follows:
“The entire structure with all its supporters hereby formally resigns from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in protest against the sustained injustice, mistrust, marginalisation, and deliberate neglect of Zamfara State and its people.
“That we shall, in due course, announce our next political direction, guided by the collective interest of the good people of Zamfara State.”
The forum expressed grave concerns over the worsening insecurity and poor governance in Zamfara, saying:
“The federal government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, hasn’t been able to address the persistent and senseless kidnappings and killings of innocent citizens in Zamfara State, despite the explicit promises made during the 2023 presidential campaign. The situation continues to worsen, leaving communities devastated and hopeless.”
The communique further condemned what it called the “politicisation of insecurity” in Zamfara. It cited the recent House of Assembly bye-election in Kaura Namoda, where villages that had been attacked and lost over 40 people, including women and children, “received no federal government support till today.”
It added:
“The state has been sidelined in all facets of human developments including protection of lives and properties, infrastructural developments as well as fair representation in political appointments.”
