Kabiru Marafa, former Zamfara Central Senator along with his supporters, have formally dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing President Bola Tinubu and the ruling party of injustice, neglect, and marginalisation of Zamfara State.
The decision was taken after a two-day meeting of the Senator Kabiru Marafa Consultative Forum in Kaduna on Wednesday and Thursday, August 27 and 28, 2025.
In a communiqué signed by its chairman, Bashir Mafara, secretary Mannir Tsafe, and seven others, the group announced its collective resignation from the APC.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a use-and-dump leader,” Marafa declared in the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting.
The statement read in part, “After broad consultations and a critical review of the prevailing circumstances, the political structure of Distinguished Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa, OFR, CON, across the 147 wards in Zamfara State unanimously resolved as follows:
“The entire structure, with all its supporters, hereby formally resigns from the All Progressives Congress in protest against the sustained injustice, mistrust, marginalisation and deliberate neglect of Zamfara State and its people.
“That we shall, in due course, announce our next political direction, guided by the collective interest of the good people of Zamfara State.”
The group expressed deep concern over worsening insecurity in Zamfara, lamenting that kidnappings and killings have continued unabated despite campaign promises.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, hasn’t been able to address the persistent and senseless kidnappings and killings of innocent citizens in Zamfara State, despite the explicit promises made during the 2023 presidential campaign.
“The situation continues to worsen, leaving communities devastated and hopeless,” the communiqué noted.
Citing official figures and community reports, the forum claimed that of the 4,722 people kidnapped across Nigeria in 2024, Zamfara alone accounted for 1,203 cases followed by Kaduna with 629.
It further alleged that according to Zamfara Circle Community Initiatives, 25 villages came under attack within a single week after the recent by-election, resulting in 145 abductions and 21 deaths.
The forum accused the federal government of exploiting insecurity for political advantage, rather than addressing it decisively.
The statement also criticised what it described as unfair treatment of Zamfara in federal appointments and project allocations, despite the state being one of only two in the North-West that delivered victory for Tinubu in 2023.
“Distinguished Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa, OFR, CON, spearheaded Tinubu’s victory in Zamfara as State Coordinator, which the President himself acknowledged shortly after being declared the winner by INEC.
“Yet, Zamfara has been sidelined in all aspects: security, infrastructure, and political representation,” the communiqué stated.
The forum argued that while Zamfara got only a Minister of State, other North-West states were allocated two substantive ministerial slots.
“But more unfair,” it added, “is the allocation given to the South-West, which corners the entire financial sector, with some states receiving multiple ministerial slots and countless agencies.
“For instance, Lagos State, where President Tinubu lost the election, has enjoyed overwhelming patronage in terms of appointments and developmental projects, underscoring the deliberate marginalisation of Zamfara State, where Mr President won.”
In conclusion, the forum accused the APC leadership of abandoning its founding ideals.
“The above actions and omissions negate the fundamental principles of justice, fairness, equity and accountability upon which the APC was founded. Conscience demands that genuine progressives must stand for truth and resist injustice, no matter how uncomfortable,” the communiqué said.
