An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, 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, describing the allegation as a politically motivated attempt to discredit him.
Shinkafi alleged that political opponents were spreading the claim following Yari’s appointment as Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement on Saturday, he described the report as false and accused those behind it of seeking to damage Yari’s reputation.
He said Bilyaminu was related to Yari by marriage, being a cousin of the former governor’s wife, who is a daughter of the late Umaru Shinkafi.
Shinkafi explained that Bilyaminu had previously sought the APC ticket for Zamfara North Senatorial District but was not cleared by the party’s screening committee ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said the politician subsequently joined the ADC to pursue his governorship ambition.
The APC chieftain urged Nigerians to disregard the allegation, insisting that Yari remained committed to Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Shinkafi also rejected claims linking Yari to eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly who recently resigned from the APC.
The lawmakers are Aliyu Ango Kagara, Ibrahim Tukur Bakura, Faruk Musa Dosara, Bashir Abubakar Masama, Muktaru Nasiru Kaura, Nasiru Abdullahi, Bashar Bello and Bashar Ali.
According to Shinkafi, the lawmakers were suspended on February 26, 2024, over allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy, mischief, contempt of the House and holding an unauthorised sitting in violation of the Assembly’s standing orders.
He noted that five of the lawmakers were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2023 before defecting to the APC.
Shinkafi said Yari and other party stakeholders had made unsuccessful efforts to resolve the dispute and secure the lifting of the lawmakers’ suspension.
He added that he had advised Yari to approach Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal to find an amicable solution before Yari planned to defect to the APC.
Shinkafi further claimed that Yari had financially supported the suspended lawmakers, whose salaries, allowances and other entitlements had allegedly been withheld since their suspension.
He appealed to Lawal and the Assembly leadership to resolve the dispute and ensure that the lawmakers’ outstanding entitlements were addressed.
