The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State has said that Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle remains more politically influential in the state than Governor Dauda Lawal.
The party stated this in response to a report alleging that Governor Lawal had set a condition that Matawalle must be removed from office before he would consider joining the APC.
In a statement on Thursday, the Zamfara APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris, claimed that Governor Lawal had previously made efforts to align with the APC but was not forthcoming in his intentions.
According to the statement, the party regards Matawalle as a major political figure in the state and referenced his role in the Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign, where he served as the Northwest Campaign Director-General.
The APC also accused the governor of opposing Matawalle’s security efforts in the North West, including an alleged refusal to allow the minister establish an operational base in Zamfara during federal anti-banditry operations.
The statement added that Matawalle has continued to receive defectors from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in both Abuja and Zamfara.
The party maintained that Governor Lawal is “not in a position to set conditions” for joining the APC and advised him to approach party leaders in the state if he intends to switch political allegiance.
