The Secretary to the Zamfara State Government (SSG), Malam Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada, has reminded the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state that democracy guarantees every adult the freedom to belong to any political party of their choice.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Sulaiman Ahmad Tudu, following the APC’s announcement of the defection of Bello Nakwada, a brother to the SSG.
Tudu stated that the political decisions of the SSG’s family members are guided by personal choice and are not an exception to democratic norms.
According to the statement, if any member of the SSG’s family does not share the vision of Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration, it remains their individual decision, stressing that, such choices do not in any way reflect the position or commitment of the SSG.
“The Secretary to the State Government remains focused on supporting His Excellency, Governor Dauda Lawal, in delivering on his transformative agenda for Zamfara State and will not be distracted by political narratives,” the statement read.
The media aide also noted that, political differences within families are not uncommon in Nigeria’s political history, citing examples of prominent political figures whose relatives belong to opposing parties.
Reacting to the APC’s claim, the statement described the party’s announcement as an attempt to exaggerate the significance of the defection by linking it to the personality of the SSG, rather than focusing on substantive political developments.
The statement further observed that, the APC’s announcement came at a time when several influential members of the party in Zamfara State were defecting to other political platforms and aligning with the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal.
Those mentioned include a former state chairman of the APC, Alhaji Lawali Makaman Kaura, as well as notable youth mobilisers Jamilu Adamu Escape and Ramadan Mijinyawa, among others across the state.
The SSG’s office challenged the APC to address internal political inconsistencies within its ranks, questioning why a close family member of one of the party’s prominent leaders, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, is reportedly a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The statement reiterated that the Zamfara State Government remains committed to governance, stability, and the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people of the state, rather than engaging in political distractions.
