Matawalle donates vehicles to eight Zamfara lawmakers who returned to APC

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has donated vehicles to eight members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly who recently returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC), as part of efforts to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The vehicles are expected to facilitate the lawmakers’ movements, constituency engagements and political mobilisation following their return to the ruling party.

The donation comes amid renewed efforts by APC leaders to reconcile aggrieved members, restore internal cohesion and consolidate support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, reportedly directed the immediate release of the vehicles to the lawmakers to support their political activities.

Presenting the vehicles, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Yazid Shehu Danfulani, described the gesture as a demonstration of Matawalle’s commitment to reconciliation and unity within the party.

He said the minister had consistently encouraged dialogue and cooperation among APC stakeholders to address internal disagreements and prevent further divisions.

According to Danfulani, the donation forms part of broader efforts to consolidate the reconciliation process and strengthen the party’s grassroots structures ahead of the 2027 elections.

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, one of the lawmakers, Aliyu Ango Kagara, expressed appreciation to Matawalle for the support and pledged their commitment to Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

“We sincerely appreciate the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, for this gesture. We assure him of our commitment to working assiduously for the success of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections,” Kagara said.

The lawmakers’ return to the APC has also attracted commendation from party stakeholders, including the Northern Elders of the APC Forum, which praised Tinubu and Matawalle for their roles in the reconciliation process.

In a statement, the forum’s chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar, described the development as an important step towards resolving internal disagreements and strengthening the APC’s political structure in Zamfara State.

“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,” Abubakar said.

The forum also commended Matawalle for his efforts to reconcile aggrieved members and rebuild confidence among party stakeholders.

It said the lawmakers had reportedly agreed to return to the APC following discussions with the minister, who was also said to have presented them to Tinubu after they reaffirmed their allegiance to the President and the party.

However, the elders warned that the lawmakers’ return should not signal the end of reconciliation efforts, urging the party leadership to address the grievances of other aggrieved members.

“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 forum said.

Matawalle governed Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023 before joining the APC and subsequently becoming Minister of State for Defence.

The vehicle donation comes as the APC intensifies efforts to strengthen its internal structures and broaden its political support base ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party’s ability to sustain the reconciliation drive, however, may depend on how effectively its leadership addresses outstanding grievances and ensures that returning and existing members work together towards a common political goal.