Eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have rejoined the All Progressives Congress (APC) after meeting President Bola Tinubu. Punch reported that the Northern Elders of the APC Forum praised the president and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, for mediating the dispute. The group viewed the return as a move to restore internal cohesion, urging party leadership to maintain momentum before the 2027 general elections.
Premium Times noted that the State House of Assembly suspended the legislators in February 2024, citing alleged breaches of house rules and the Nigerian Constitution. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) added that the group had recently left the APC, though they argued their removal was technically flawed. Matawalle, who governed Zamfara from 2019 to 2023, escorted the lawmakers to the president to resolve the impasse threatening the local APC chapter.
Aliyu Kagara, who served as Minority Leader before his suspension, confirmed the visit to NAN in a Monday phone call. Representing Talata Mafara South, Kagara called the president’s involvement fatherly. He stated that the group outlined their grievances to Tinubu, who pledged to hold a follow-up session. Kagara said the lawmakers were now awaiting that next invitation before deciding on further steps.
Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar, chairman of the Northern Elders of the APC Forum, released a statement on Tuesday highlighting Tinubu’s dedication to party unity. Abubakar also credited Matawalle with fostering dialogue to settle internal disagreements. The forum expressed hope that the return of the eight legislators would bolster the APC’s organizational base in Zamfara and enhance its electoral prospects.
The elders argued that this specific return should trigger wider peace-building among northern stakeholders. They called on leaders to address lingering complaints to prevent further defections. According to the statement, lasting unity requires building trust among all party members. The forum concluded that a cohesive APC would be better equipped to support Tinubu’s re-election campaign.