Matawalle leads 8 suspended Zamfara lawmakers to Tinubu after APC exit

Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara state Governor, Dr Bello Matawalle, has led eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly to meet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following their recent resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) amid political disagreements in the state.

The meeting, held on Sunday, October 18, 2026 came weeks after the lawmakers announced their departure from the ruling party, raising concerns about internal divisions ahead of the 2027 general elections. Blueprint reports

Reports indicate that the legislators have now agreed to return to the APC and work towards the party’s success, following discussions aimed at addressing their grievances.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on October 19, 2026 by Ahmad Dan-Wudil, personal assistant on media to Matawalle, who served as Zamfara governor from 2019 to 2023.

According to the statement, the lawmakers reaffirmed their support for Tinubu and their commitment to the APC during the meeting. Matawalle also pledged to integrate them into the Tinubu Again Movement to coordinate efforts in support of the president and other APC candidates ahead of the elections.

The meeting is significant against the backdrop of the prolonged dispute involving the lawmakers and the leadership of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, as well as their recent decision to leave the APC.

Lawmakers’ suspension dates back to 2024

The eight legislators have been under suspension from the state Assembly since February 26, 2024, according to the Speaker, Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki.

Moriki said the lawmakers were suspended over allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy, mischief, contempt of the House and convening an unauthorised sitting in violation of the Assembly’s Standing Orders.

The allegations, as outlined by the Speaker, included claims that the lawmakers forcibly entered the offices of the Clerk and the Sergeant-at-Arms, gained unauthorised access to the legislative chamber and damaged public property before convening a sitting that was not approved by the Assembly leadership.

Moriki also said a criminal complaint had been filed against the affected legislators before a court of competent jurisdiction. He disclosed that the Assembly extended their suspension on May 13, 2026, for another legislative session because the disciplinary issues remained unresolved.

The Speaker maintained that the suspension predated the lawmakers’ recent political decisions and should not be interpreted as a consequence of their resignation from the APC.

The suspended legislators, however, have presented their own account of the dispute. In interviews and statements reported by the media, some of them linked their actions to concerns over worsening insecurity in their constituencies and alleged failures by political leaders to address the situation.

They also cited alleged injustice and the non-payment of salaries, allowances and other entitlements among their grievances.

The competing accounts underscore the depth of the disagreement, which has remained unresolved despite efforts by political stakeholders to broker reconciliation.

Resignation from APC and return talks

The lawmakers announced their resignation from the APC in early October, citing insecurity, alleged injustice and dissatisfaction with the handling of issues affecting their constituencies.

The legislators are Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Ibrahim Tukur Bakura, representing Bakura; Faruk Musa Dosara, representing Maradun I; Bashir Abubakar Masama, representing Bukkuyum North; Muktaru Nasiru Kaura, representing Kaura North; Nasiru Abdullahi, representing Maru North; Bashar Bello, representing Bungudu West; and Bashar Aliyu, representing Gummi I.

Their departure triggered fresh political uncertainty, with reports suggesting that they were considering joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

However, reports following their meeting with Tinubu indicate that the lawmakers have shelved that option and agreed to return to the APC, while efforts are being made to address the concerns that prompted their resignation.

The latest development places Matawalle at the centre of the reconciliation effort. As a former governor of Zamfara and a serving member of the federal cabinet, he led the delegation to the president and pledged to bring the lawmakers into the Tinubu Again Movement.

The statement from Matawalle’s media office did not provide details of any specific concessions agreed upon during the meeting or explain how the outstanding issues surrounding the lawmakers’ suspension would be resolved.

It also did not indicate whether the meeting produced any formal agreement concerning their reinstatement in the state Assembly.

APC faces reconciliation challenge ahead of 2027

The meeting comes as political parties begin positioning for the 2027 general elections, with the APC facing the task of managing internal disagreements while maintaining support for Tinubu and its candidates.

Although the lawmakers’ reported decision to return to the party may ease one aspect of the dispute, their political realignment does not automatically resolve the separate disciplinary and legal issues associated with their suspension from the Assembly.

The distinction is important because party membership and participation in legislative proceedings are governed by different processes. Any resolution of the lawmakers’ suspension would therefore depend on the relevant procedures and decisions of the Assembly and, where applicable, the courts.

For the APC in Zamfara, addressing the grievances raised by the lawmakers could prove important in efforts to maintain party cohesion ahead of the elections. Their complaints about insecurity, alleged injustice and unpaid entitlements also touch on issues that have featured prominently in the state’s political debate.

Matawalle’s intervention and the meeting with Tinubu have opened another avenue for dialogue. Whether the engagement will lead to a lasting resolution, however, will depend on how the parties address the outstanding grievances and the disciplinary issues surrounding the lawmakers.

For now, the reported agreement to return to the APC marks a significant shift in the political position of the eight legislators, but questions over their status in the Assembly remain distinct from their relationship with the ruling party.