Barely 48 hours after nine members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC), 442 Councillors on the platform of the party have followed suit.
The defection has further worsened the political turmoil rocking the APC in the State where the Director General of the APC Presidential Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari hails from.
The Councillors representing 147 wards across the 14 Local Government Areas of Zamfara State, stated their resolve to dump the APC in a letter dated October 6, 2026, addressed to the leadership of the party in the state.
The letter which was signed by the Chairman of the Zamfara State Elected Councillors Forum, Hon. Abdullahi Bello Gwaram, explained that the decision to leave the APC was collectively reached alongside their supporters and political associates.
Bello Gwaram stated; “We write on behalf of the 442 former Councillors representing the 147 Wards across the 14 Local Government Areas of Zamfara State, together with our respective members, supporters, and political associates, to formally notify the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Zamfara State Chapter, of our collective intention to defect from the APC to another political party.
“This notification is intended to formally inform the APC state leadership of our decision to discontinue our affiliation with the party and pursue to political our activities under another platform,” he said.
While the councillors did not state the political party they are moving to, they however, said that they deemed it appropriate to notify the APC leadership ahead of their defection, stressing the need to uphold mutual respect, political engagement and democratic principles.
The councillors expressed appreciation for the opportunities and experiences they gained during their membership of the APC and wished the party and its leadership well.
Last weekend, nine members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly defected from the APC for ADC. The lawmakers that defected included; Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Muktar Nasir, representing Kaura Namoda North; Faruk Dosara Musa, representing Maradun I; Basiru Bello, representing Bungudu West; Bashir A. Masama, representing Bukkuyum North; Ibrahim T. Tukur, representing Bakura; Nasiru Abdullahi, representing Maru North; Yusuf Muhammad Anka, representing Anka; and Bashar Aliyu, representing Gummi I.
The lawmakers cited concerns over insecurity, alleged injustice, internal divisions and what they described as inadequate attention to the welfare of residents as reasons for their defection from the APC.
One of the lawmakers, Kagara, specifically said that they had not being paid salaries, allowances and other entitlements for 32 months, stressing that they have been at odds with Governor Dauda Lawal for more than two years, stressing that the disagreement have been largely as a result of security situation in the state.
However, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Bilyaminu Moriki, said the nine members have been on suspension since February 2024 over allegations including gross misconduct, conspiracy, contempt of the House, forceful entry into legislative offices and the convening of an unauthorised sitting.
Moriki further said that their suspension was extended in May 2026 because the disciplinary issues remained unresolved, stressing that the House remained functional despite the development.
The development is believed to be causing serious upheaval particularly against the backdrop of the realignment in early 2026 which led Governor Dauda Lawal to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
Following Governor Lawal’s defection, members of the State Assembly also defected to the APC with the hope of consolidating the party’s control in the State.
But, with the latest wave of defections, it appears to be reversing some of the gains recorded as defection of the nine State lawmakers and the exit of over 440 councillors has changed the political direction in the Statew.
While the 442 councillors have yet to announce their new political platform, the move will certainly alter political realignment in Zamfara as parties position themselves ahead of 2027 elections.
