OPINION: WHY SENATOR MARAFA SHOULD JOIN FORCES WITH GOVERNOR DAUDA LAWAL IN PDP

By Suleman Ahmad Tudu

The resignation of Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa from the All Progressive Congress (APC) has recently reactivated some political debates and 2027 permutations that dominated the cyberspace in Zamfara state and beyond.

Sen. Marafa’s long-overdue exit from the party has never taken me by surprise because I foresaw it coming. I have since subjected Zamfara APC into a ‘miscibility’ test and what I saw was a heterogeneous mixture of ‘immiscible actors’ that can only stay in one platform but will always form distinct layers.

Somewhere around March 2024, I predicted that two of the major APC constituents (referring to Marafa and Sani Jaji) in the state with similar ‘progressive ideologies' will soon be forced out of the mixture by their fellows that share the opposite of their ideals. It seems the chicken is coming home to roost!

I was a fan of Sen Marafa, because I believe he means well for Zamfara State going by his political antecedents and track record of service. I like his courage, boldness and doggedness especially during the G-8 struggles. I also admired his outspokenness when he was in the red chamber, especially when he single-handedly rallied his colleague Senators to appropriate N10 billion for Zamfara State over devastation caused by banditry into the 2019 budget and for empowering many of his constituents.

However, Marafa's major undoing, and perhaps, his biggest political miscalculation was subscribing to the APC’s deceptive and desperate power-grabbing arrangement in the name of ‘Sulhu’, a derailment that has significantly depleted his popularity in the state.

His recent resignation from the APC—a party that failed to provide good governance while in power and now failed to provide responsible opposition in Zamfara—is a good step towards his political redemption. Though, this depends on Senator Marafa’s next political move because it has been proven that being in the wrong company has the potential to spoil someone's future and vice-versa. Hence, I see the imperative to offer a recommendation while the Senator is weighing his options.

Looking at the current political landscape in Zamfara and Nigeria at large, I humbly wish to invite Senator Marafa to join forces with Governor Dauda Lawal in the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to move Zamfara forward. The reasons for this suggestion are not far-fetched. 

Both Governor Lawal and Senator Marafa were once  friends united in the G-8 struggle that fought against the former Governor Yari's selfish imposition of candidates when they were both in APC. This signifies that they share some similar visions for the progress of Zamfara State and strengthening democracy. Their reunion could therefore be the game-changer the state needs. 

Moreover, despite its not insurmountable internal crisis, the PDP remains the only formidable national party that can challenge the excesses of the APC, because it has a strong grassroots structure and support base, not only in Zamfara but across the country which would provide Senator Marafa with a solid foundation to build on.

By joining the PDP, Senator Marafa would not only add to Governor Lawal's numbers but also contribute to his re-election, allowing him to continue doing good for the people of Zamfara that Senator Marafa had also been advocating. I believe even Senator Marafa will love to join Governor Lawal's moving train and be part of the rescue consolidation project beyond 2027.

It is worth noting that Senator Marafa was once a member of the PDP, so rejoining the party now would be a homecoming of sorts. On the other hand, if he were to join another party that lacks a grassroots support base, such as the ADC coalition, he might not make any significant difference and that will be politically unwise. 

I therefore believe that joining hands with Governor Dauda Lawal in the PDP would be the best decision for Senator Marafa going forward, allowing him to leverage the party's structure and Governor Lawal's rising popularity to redeem politically and contribute towards achieving a greater Zamfara of our dreams. I hope the distinguished Senator will critically ponder on this with alacrity.

Tudu is a Senior Special Assistant on Media, Office of the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government.

sulemantudu22@gmail.com

Zamfara APC Replies Marafa Over Comment on Tinubu’s 2027 Votes.

The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to comments credited to former Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa, in which he allegedly threatened to deny President Bola Ahmed Tinubu one million votes in the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement issued in Gusau, the State APC Chairman, Hon. Tukur Umar Danfulani, dismissed Marafa’s claims as baseless, describing him as a “disgraced politician still struggling to recover from his defeat in 2019.”

Danfulani noted that contrary to Marafa’s boast of delivering votes for President Tinubu in 2023, the former lawmaker failed to win his own constituency, stressing that APC’s victory in Zamfara was the result of collective efforts by leaders such as former Governor Bello Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, and Senator Abdulaziz Yari, alongside other stakeholders.

He explained that Matawalle coordinated the Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign in the Northwest, while Marafa was reluctantly assigned as Zamfara coordinator despite lacking the merit. “Having lost everywhere, Marafa turned to blackmail and needless controversies, sometimes aligning with troublemakers until they discovered his selfish motives,” Danfulani said.

The APC chairman further argued that Marafa has lost political relevance in Zamfara, citing the party’s landslide victory in the recent Kaura Namoda South State House of Assembly bye-election without any contribution from him. “It is laughable that someone who could not win his ward or local government in 2023 is now claiming he can reduce one million votes from the President,” he added.

Danfulani also accused Marafa of being haunted by a history of betrayal and deceit, recalling that his 2011 Senate victory was sponsored by Senator Yari, while his subsequent bid only succeeded after intervention by other party leaders.

“What Zamfara people know today is that Senator Marafa is all noise without substance. Even his family will hardly follow him politically, and that is why he resorts to cheap media campaigns for sympathy,” Danfulani stated.

He advised Marafa to “shine his eyes and face reality,” insisting that the APC in Zamfara remains united and formidable under the leadership of Governor Dauda Lawal and other key figures.

“Ordinarily, we would not have responded to a rejected politician like Marafa, but since he chose to attack the President, it became necessary to set the records straight. Zamfara APC is strong, united, and focused on victory. No amount of propaganda can distract us,” the statement concluded.

Lessons from PDP’s Resounding Defeat in Zamfara By-Election

By Yusuf Idris Gusau

The recent by-election in Kaura-Namoda South State Constituency has once again reaffirmed the dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suffered a heavy defeat at the polls.

The election, which held in two phases, ended with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring APC candidate, Malam Kamilu Sa’idu, as the winner after polling 8,182 votes against the PDP’s 5,543. The Returning Officer, Professor Lawal Sa’adu of the Federal University Gusau, announced the result in the early hours of Thursday, August 21, 2025.

The poll was initially conducted on Saturday, August 16, but declared inconclusive due to irregularities in five polling units in Sakajiki and Kyambarawa. INEC later scheduled a supplementary election, where the APC widened its lead from 7,001 to over 8,000 votes, while PDP only managed a marginal increase.

The outcome has been described by the APC as a reflection of the people’s rejection of the PDP-led government in the state. According to the party, the electorate used the by-election to express dissatisfaction with the administration’s unfulfilled promises on security, development, and welfare.

The APC also accused the ruling party of attempting to disrupt the process through violence and intimidation, which was swiftly curtailed by the intervention of security agencies. The Commissioner of Police had earlier warned that only conventional security personnel would be allowed to provide coverage during the election.

Despite these measures, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, alleged that the APC manipulated the process by “militarising” the election and intimidating voters—an accusation strongly dismissed by the APC.

The election also exposed the rising political tension in Zamfara. The APC maintained that instead of addressing insecurity, Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration had resorted to blame games and the use of political thugs. The party further criticised the PDP governors who visited Zamfara for their 102nd forum meeting, accusing them of failing to sympathise with victims of recent bandit attacks in Banga village, where 38 people were killed.

For many residents, the PDP’s defeat serves as a lesson in leadership and accountability. They believe the people can no longer be swayed by empty promises, and that the ruling party faces an uphill task ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Kaura-Namoda South by-election, therefore, stands as both a warning and a pointer: that political power ultimately belongs to the people, and that APC remains the strongest political force in Zamfara State.

— Idris Gusau is the Zamfara State APC Publicity Secretary
1st September, 2025.