The Northern Elders of the All Progressives Congress Forum have commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, for efforts that reportedly facilitated the return of eight members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly to the ruling party.
The forum described the development as a significant step towards restoring unity within the party, urging APC leaders to sustain reconciliation efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The chairman of the forum, Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar, made the position known in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday, praising Tinubu and Matawalle for their alleged roles in resolving the disagreements that led to the lawmakers’ departure from the party.
Abubakar said the President’s intervention demonstrated his commitment to strengthening the APC and fostering understanding among party members despite the demands of governance.
“We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his fatherly role and commitment to promoting reconciliation within the party, despite his tight schedule. His leadership and willingness to encourage dialogue remain crucial to strengthening the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he said.
The forum also praised Matawalle, a former Zamfara State governor, for his involvement in efforts to reconcile aggrieved members and bring the lawmakers back into the party.
According to Abubakar, the minister’s role highlights the importance of dialogue, consultation and sustained engagement in resolving political disputes and preventing internal divisions from undermining the party’s strength.
“We equally commend the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, for his dedication, energy and efforts towards reconciling aggrieved members and strengthening the APC’s political structure in Zamfara State and the North-West,” he added.
The elders expressed optimism that the lawmakers’ return would strengthen the party’s political structure in Zamfara and improve its chances of mobilising support ahead of the next electoral cycle.
However, they stressed that the development should serve as a starting point for broader reconciliation involving party leaders, elected officials and other stakeholders across the North-West.
The forum urged APC leaders to address the grievances of aggrieved members and ensure that political differences did not result in further defections or weaken the party’s cohesion.
“We appeal to all stakeholders in the North, particularly in the North-West, to embrace genuine reconciliation, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence.
“Party unity must go beyond the return of elected officials; it must involve building trust and ensuring that every stakeholder has a sense of belonging,” the statement said.
The forum further expressed support for reconciliation initiatives attributed to Matawalle, maintaining that sustained engagement among party stakeholders would be crucial to consolidating the APC’s position in the region.
It added that a united party would be better placed to promote peace, stability and development while mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
The Zamfara APC has experienced internal disagreements as political leaders and stakeholders position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Matawalle, who governed Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023 before joining the APC, remains an influential political figure in the North-West.
The reported return of the eight lawmakers presents an opportunity for the party to rebuild trust and consolidate its political base in the state.
However, the extent to which the development will strengthen the APC will depend on the ability of party leaders to address lingering grievances and sustain reconciliation beyond the return of the lawmakers.