Eight members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing worsening insecurity, alleged injustice within the party and prolonged non-payment of their salaries and allowances.
The lawmakers announced their resignation in separate letters dated October 4, 2026, in a development that adds another twist to the political realignment currently taking place in Zamfara State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Among those reported to have resigned are Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Ibrahim Tukur Bakura of Bakura; Faruk Musa Dosara of Maradun I; Muktaru Nasiru Kaura, popularly known as Jikan Shehu, representing Kaura Namoda North; and Bashir Abubakar Masama of Bukkuyum North.
The lawmakers said their decision was driven largely by concerns over the worsening security situation in the state and what they described as the failure of the authorities to adequately address the challenges facing their constituents.
Kagara, who spoke on behalf of the group, said the lawmakers had previously raised concerns about insecurity on the floor of the House, but their position allegedly created tension between them and Governor Dauda Lawal.
He said the security situation had continued to deteriorate despite the concerns raised by the lawmakers.
The legislators also alleged that they had gone for about 32 months without receiving their salaries, allowances and other entitlements as members of the state legislature.
“This is our 32 months without salary, allowances and other entitlements as honourable members, and the people of Zamfara; the ball is in their court,” Kagara said.
The lawmakers further alleged that joining the APC had not resolved the issues that had previously affected their relationship with the state government and party leadership.
They accused some party leaders of working against them and denying them what they considered a fair hearing.
The development is particularly significant because Zamfara’s political landscape has witnessed considerable movement between the major parties over the past year.
The APC had previously gained control of the state House of Assembly following the defection of the Speaker and 12 other lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling party.
However, the latest resignations could further reshape the balance of power within the legislature and add to the political uncertainty in the state as the 2027 elections approach.
The Zamfara APC has yet to formally confirm its receipt of the lawmakers’ resignation letters. The party’s Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Danmadamin Birnin Magaji, said officials had only seen the letters circulating on social media and had not officially received them at the time of the report.
The latest development comes against the backdrop of a broader wave of political defections in Zamfara.
In previous months, several PDP politicians and lawmakers had moved to the APC, with the ruling party gaining a stronger presence in the state’s political structure. In October 2025, for instance, the APC announced that it had secured a majority in the 24-member Zamfara State House of Assembly following a series of defections.
The latest resignations therefore represent a notable reversal of some of those political gains and could further intensify the competition between the APC and PDP in Zamfara.
With the 2027 general elections drawing closer, the movement of lawmakers and party officials is expected to remain a major feature of Zamfara’s political landscape.
The latest defections also highlight the growing importance of insecurity, governance, internal party relations and the welfare of elected officials in the political contest ahead of the elections.
