Kabiru Marafa Resigns from APC, accusing President Tinubu of neglecting Zamfara despite its support in 2023, citing insecurity, betrayal, and marginalisation
Former senator representing Zamfara Central, Kabiru Marafa, has announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing alleged neglect of Zamfara State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu despite the state’s role in his 2023 presidential victory.
Marafa, who served as Zamfara State coordinator for the Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign, said Tinubu had failed to honour his campaign promises and abandoned the people of Zamfara in their greatest time of need.
He accused the president of being a “use-and-dump leader” and declared that both he and his political structure would no longer remain in the ruling party.
The announcement followed a meeting of the Kabiru Marafa Consultative Forum, held between August 27 and 28 in Kaduna.
The forum, attended by Marafa’s supporters across the state, deliberated extensively on the worsening insecurity, political neglect, and underdevelopment in Zamfara.
In a communique issued after the meeting and signed by eight members, including Bashir Muhammad Mafara, Mannir Bature Tsafe, and Muzakkiru Sidi Bawa, the group lamented that Zamfara had been reduced to a “theatre of killings and kidnappings.”
They referenced statistics showing that out of 4,722 people kidnapped nationwide in 2024, 1,203 were from Zamfara alone.
Citing further data from Zamfara Circle Community Initiatives, the communique noted that in one week, 25 villages were attacked, leaving 145 people abducted and 21 killed.
Yet, despite these tragedies, the forum said the federal government failed to protect the people. Instead, it accused the APC-led administration of deploying heavy security only during by-elections to guarantee victory for the party.
The group further condemned what it described as the politicisation of insecurity, alleging that communities devastated by banditry were neglected while resources were diverted to “vote-buying” during the Kaura Namoda by-election.
On political appointments, the forum criticised Tinubu for marginalising Zamfara despite its loyalty during the elections.
It argued that while Zamfara—one of only two North-West states that gave Tinubu victory—was left with just a minister of state, Lagos, where Tinubu lost, was rewarded with multiple key economic positions.
“Mr President has never visited Zamfara since assuming office, even though our people have suffered more severe forms of banditry than other states that have enjoyed presidential attention and financial aid,” the communique stated, stressing that Tinubu’s approach negated the founding principles of fairness, justice, and accountability upon which the APC was built.
The forum concluded that Marafa’s entire political structure across all 147 wards in Zamfara had unanimously resigned from the APC.
It, however, noted that the group’s next political direction would be made known in due course, “guided by the collective interest of the good people of Zamfara State.”
Marafa’s decision marks a sharp departure from his earlier stance in 2023 when he had assured Zamfara people that Tinubu would adequately reward the state for its support during the presidential election.