APC Chieftain Denies Yari Sponsoring ADC Gov Candidate in Zamfara

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has debunked claims that former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, is sponsoring the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi, in Zamfara State.

Shinkafi, in a statement issued on Saturday, described the allegation trending on social media as false and politically motivated, aimed at tarnishing Yari’s image after his appointment as Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.

He said the ADC candidate is only related to Yari by marriage, as a cousin to Yari’s wife, the daughter of the late Umaru Shinkafi.

According to him, Bilyaminu initially sought the APC ticket for Zamfara North Senatorial District but failed to scale the party’s screening ahead of the 2027 polls, which pushed him to join the ADC for his governorship ambition.

Shinkafi attributed the rumour to opponents unhappy with Yari’s new role in President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

“It is obvious that some political actors are not happy that President Tinubu appointed Yari his Presidential Campaign Council’s Director General and ventilate their grievances by spreading fake news,” he said.

He urged the public to disregard the claim, insisting Yari remains committed to delivering Tinubu’s victory in 2027.

On the eight suspended Zamfara State House of Assembly members who recently quit the APC — Aliyu Ango Kagara, Ibrahim Tukur Bakura, Faruk Musa Dosara, Bashir Abubakar Masama, Muktaru Nasiru Kaura, Nasiru Abdullahi, Bashar Bello and Bashar Ali — Shinkafi said they are not Yari’s political allies.

He recalled they were suspended on February 26, 2024 over alleged gross misconduct, conspiracy, mischief, contempt and illegal sitting, adding that five of them were originally elected on PDP platform in 2023 before defecting to APC.

Shinkafi disclosed that attempts by Yari and other party leaders to resolve the Assembly crisis were unsuccessful despite interventions.

He said Yari, out of compassion, had been financially supporting the affected lawmakers whose salaries and entitlements have been withheld since their suspension, while continuing behind-the-scenes peace efforts.

He appealed to Governor Dauda Lawal and the Assembly leadership to resolve the matter politically and pay the lawmakers their entitlements.