A former Zamfara Central Senator, Kabiru Garba Marafa, has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing President Bola Tinubu of running a “use-and-dump” style of politics.
Marafa, who coordinated the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organisation in Zamfara during the 2023 presidential election, announced his exit after a two-day consultative meeting with his political supporters across the state.
The meeting, held in Kaduna on August 27 and 28, 2025, brought together representatives from all 14 local government areas of Zamfara.
In a communiqué signed by the chairman of the Senator Kabiru Marafa Consultative Forum, Comrade Bashir Muhammad Mafara; secretary, Dr. Mannir Bature Tsafe, and other members, the group accused the Tinubu administration of marginalising Zamfara despite its loyalty at the polls.
The communiqué recalled that under Marafa’s leadership, Tinubu secured victory in Zamfara without physically campaigning in the state. Marafa had reportedly assured Tinubu of electoral success in Zamfara — a promise he said he delivered.
However, the Forum lamented that despite the support, Zamfara has continued to face neglect under Tinubu’s government.
The group cited worsening insecurity, noting that Zamfara topped the national list of kidnapping cases in 2024, accounting for 1,203 out of 4,722 abductions across the country. It added that within a week of a bye-election, 25 villages in the state were attacked, with 145 persons abducted and 21 killed.
It also criticised the deployment of security forces to guarantee APC victory in Kaura Namoda bye-election, accusing the government of failing to extend the same commitment to protecting lives and property.
On political appointments, the Forum said Zamfara was given only a Minister of State position, while other Northwest states got two full ministerial slots. It added that Lagos, where Tinubu lost, received more appointments and federal attention.
The group further accused the APC leadership of sidelining Marafa’s political structure, contrary to the founding ideals of fairness and inclusiveness.
After what it described as “exhaustive consultations,” the Forum announced the resignation of Marafa and his political structure from the APC across all 147 wards of Zamfara State.
It vowed to unveil its next political direction “in due course,” insisting that the decision was taken in the collective interest of the people of Zamfara.