A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has dismissed claims that former Zamfara state governor, Abdul’aziz Yari, is backing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi.
Shinkafi described the allegation as false, claiming that political opponents were attempting to tarnish Yari’s reputation following his appointment as Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement on Saturday, the APC chieftain said Bilyaminu’s relationship with Yari through marriage had been misrepresented to suggest that the former governor was sponsoring his governorship ambition.
“I wish to debunk the fake news on social media that Senator Abdul’aziz Yari is sponsoring the ADC governorship candidate in Zamfara State, Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi,” he said.
Describing the allegation as the handiwork of political adversaries, Shinkafi explained that Bilyaminu was a cousin of Yari’s wife, who is a daughter of the late Umaru Shinkafi.
He said the ADC candidate had previously sought the APC ticket for the Zamfara North Senatorial District but was not cleared by the party’s screening committee ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to him, Bilyaminu subsequently joined the ADC to pursue his governorship ambition, insisting that his political decision should not be interpreted as evidence of support from Yari.
Shinkafi alleged that some political actors were uncomfortable with Yari’s appointment to lead President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign and had resorted to spreading misinformation against the former governor.
“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 and carrying out a campaign of calumny against him,” he said.
The APC chieftain expressed confidence that Yari would remain committed to Tinubu’s re-election bid, urging the public to disregard claims that the former governor was secretly supporting an opposition candidate.
Shinkafi also rejected reports linking Yari to eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly who recently resigned from the APC.
He said the lawmakers were suspended on February 26, 2024, over allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy, mischief, contempt of the Assembly and holding an unauthorised sitting in violation of its Standing Orders.
According to him, the allegations against the lawmakers also included forceful entry into the offices of the Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms, burglary and destruction of public property, with criminal proceedings reportedly instituted against them.
Shinkafi maintained that the lawmakers could not be described as Yari’s political allies, noting that five of the eight legislators were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections before defecting to the APC.
Politics Nigeria reports that the affected lawmakers include Aliyu Ango Kagara, Ibrahim Tukur Bakura, Faruk Musa Dosara, Bashir Abubakar Masama, Muktaru Nasiru Kaura, Nasiru Abdullahi, Bashar Bello and Bashar Aliyu.
The APC chieftain said attempts by Yari and other party stakeholders to resolve the dispute had failed, leaving the lawmakers without their salaries, allowances and other legislative entitlements.
He added that the affected legislators had petitioned the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions for intervention over the lingering dispute.
Shinkafi said the political situation became more complicated after Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal defected from the PDP to the APC in March 2026, raising expectations that the disagreement would be resolved because the principal actors now belonged to the same party.
He disclosed that Yari convened an APC stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the matter and made efforts to broker peace, including providing financial assistance to the suspended lawmakers.
According to him, Yari also helped some of the legislators meet their financial obligations after the alleged withholding of their salaries and entitlements left them struggling to repay bank loans.
“In my contribution, I urged Senator Yari to approach Governor Lawal as he planned to defect to APC to amicably resolve the matter to foster peace and unity in the party. Sadly, all efforts made were abortive,” Shinkafi said.
He appealed to Governor Lawal and the Assembly leadership to find a political solution to the dispute and address the outstanding entitlements of the affected lawmakers.
Meanwhile, Shinkafi reiterated his support for Yari’s leadership of the APC presidential campaign, describing the former governor as an experienced politician capable of mobilising support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
