Daud Olatunji
Eight members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have resigned their membership of the All Progressives Congress, citing worsening insecurity, alleged injustice and what they described as 32 months of unpaid salaries, allowances and other entitlements.
The lawmakers announced their decision in a statement on Saturday, accusing the ruling party of failing to adequately address the security challenges confronting residents, particularly those in rural communities.
The development has further deepened the political crisis surrounding the Zamfara State House of Assembly, with the lawmakers accusing the government of failing to respond sufficiently to the plight of their constituents.
The lawmakers are Aliyu Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Ibrahim Bakura, Bakura; Faruk Dosara, Maradun I; Bashir Masama, Bukkuyum North; Muktaru Kaura, Kaura North; Nasiru Abdullahi, Maru North; Bashar Bello, Bungudu West; and Bashar Aliyu, Gummi I.
One of the lawmakers, Kagara, alleged that members had not received their salaries, allowances and other entitlements for 32 months.
“This is our 32 months without salary, allowances and other entitlements as honourable members and the people of Zamfara; the ball is in their court,” Kagara said.
He said the lawmakers could no longer continue to remain in a political party which, in their assessment, had failed to adequately address the security challenges affecting their constituents.
Kagara also accused the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal of failing to give sufficient attention to insecurity in rural communities.
“What we are challenging Governor Lawal’s administration about is even worse now compared to previous times, so we have seen no reason to continue remaining in the APC,” he said.
According to him, the lawmakers were elected primarily to represent the interests of their constituents, including advocating solutions to the security challenges confronting them.
“Our constituents in rural areas who voted us into power to address their security concerns were not being given any attention,” he added.
The lawmakers’ resignation comes against the backdrop of persistent security concerns in parts of Zamfara, where communities have continued to grapple with attacks and other criminal activities.
They maintained that their decision was driven by concerns over the welfare and security of the people they represent, as well as what they described as unresolved internal grievances.
However, the APC in Zamfara State said it had yet to receive official copies of the lawmakers’ resignation letters.
The party’s publicity secretary, Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji, said the APC had only seen the purported resignation letters on social media.
“We are still waiting for their correspondence from their respective political wards after reaching their local government executives, which would later be forwarded to us,” Birnin-Magaji said.
He added, “We all saw it on social media platforms, but whenever we receive the copies officially, we would communicate with you on our stand.”
The APC spokesman further said the party was not aware of any grievances from the lawmakers before the resignation letters surfaced.
The lawmakers were reportedly suspended by the party over allegations that they had attempted to impeach the Speaker of the state House of Assembly about a year ago.
