Crack is eminent in the ranks of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, following the failure of Governor Bello Matawalle and Senator Abdulaziz Yari to reach a consensus before the former defected to the party.
Matawalle was formally received into the party by its top notch leaders led by the National Chairman of the Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee and Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni.
At the grand reception in Zamfara State on Tuesday, which Yari also attended, Buni announced Matawalle as the new leader of the party in the state, replacing Yari.
“This is as provided by our party’s constitution and so l am mandated to inform you that as from today, Gov. Bello Matawalle is the leader of APC in the state.
“Similarly all leadership structures of the party in the state have been dissolved while the new party leader and governor of the state will announce new leadership of the party at all levels,” he said.
However, the present development which relegated the status of Yari is already creating tension within the former governor’s camp.
Beyond losing the leadership of the party, which he formerly wielded, the former governor, it was learnt, also failed to secure the consensus that would have allowed him some measure of control and give his associates a safe landing at Monday’s meeting.
Sources close to both camps told 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE in confidence that while the Yari group wanted 60 % percent stake in the State Executive Council and party executive, Matawalle opted for 70/30 control.
Sources said at the Kaduna meeting, there was serious disagreement over the matter as tempers flared up.
“The governor’s camp refused to budge even when Yari people opted for 50/50 stake.
“They also turned down Yari’s request for a senate ticket in 2023 as another precondition for his support,” one of the sources said.
He said in the end, Matawalle’s camp walked out of the meeting.
Already, it was learnt that Matawalle, with the assistance of key stakeholders, has individually reached out to some Yari’s associates with a view to winning them over.
“The move was intended to split Yari’s camp and pull the carpet from under him. And there are indications that the plan may work,” another source said.
He said Yari may consider the court option in the coming days if the party failed to mediate.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that the federal government delegation to the Zamfara event was led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha.
His entourage included Ministers of Environment and that of Humanitarian Affairs, Muhammad Mahmoud and Sadiya Umar Faruk respectively as well as the President’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu.
Senator Kabir Marafa in a statement on Tuesday, confirmed the meeting of APC stakeholders and that of Matawalle camp which took place at Arewa House.
He said as part of the intermediate outcomes of the engagements, they requested that the planned decamping ceremony be delayed until a tripartite committee comprising the leadership of APC in the State, Matawalle and the national leadership agreed on the terms.
“We were made to understand that the ceremony could not be postponed due to the level of preparations reached.
“On this note, the Zamfara State Chapter of APC under the leadership former Governor Yari, proposed to opt out of the ceremony and allow the national leadership to proceed while the party plans to take appropriate actions.
“The national leadership of the Party comprising the Chairman Caretaker Committee, Mai Mala Buni; Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufa’i; Governor of Borno State, Prof. Ummaru Zulum; Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello; Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu; and Governor of Jigawa State, Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar informed the party chapter of the special appeal of President Muhammadu Buhari for Yari to participate in the ceremony,” he explained.
He said based on the request of the caretaker chairman through Governor Nasir El-Rufai, the state and national leadership of the party delegated Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa to brief members on the development and the terms of the engagements in Kaduna.
He said one important condition of the engagement is to consider the event happening in Gusau as a mere ceremony that should be guided by the proposed tripartite meeting of the state leadership of APC, Matawalle and his group as well as the national leadership of the party.
“This tripartite meeting should hold within one week after the ceremony in Gusau. Agreements reached during the tripartite meeting will be closely monitored by all the parties. Any attempt by the governor to violate the terms of the agreement will be contested.
” Also, apparent and perpetual violations of the terms will give both parties (APC or Governor Matawalle) the right to take necessary legal actions against the governor until justice prevails,” he noted.
