By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has donated vehicles to eight members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly following their return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The donation is intended to ease the lawmakers’ transportation difficulties and support their political activities and engagement with constituents across the state.
The move comes amid efforts by APC leaders to reconcile aggrieved members and strengthen the party’s structure in Zamfara ahead of the next general elections.
Matawalle, a former governor of the state, reportedly ordered the immediate release of the vehicles following President Bola Tinubu’s reported directive for the lawmakers to return to Zamfara and help promote unity within the party.
The vehicles were presented in Gusau on Wednesday by the Managing Director of the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation, Yazid Danfulani.
Danfulani said the gesture demonstrated Matawalle’s commitment to reconciliation and party unity, adding that the minister had continued to engage stakeholders to encourage cooperation among APC members.
He explained that the donation was part of broader efforts to reconnect the lawmakers with their constituencies and strengthen grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Aliyu Kagara expressed appreciation to Matawalle and pledged their support for Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
“We sincerely appreciate the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, for this gesture. We assure him of our commitment to working assiduously for the success of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections,” Kagara said.
The development followed commendation from the Northern Elders of the APC Forum, which praised Tinubu and Matawalle for their roles in facilitating the lawmakers’ return to the ruling party.
The forum’s chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar, described the development as an important step towards resolving internal disputes and rebuilding unity within the party.
“We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his fatherly role and commitment to promoting reconciliation within the party, despite his tight schedule. His leadership and willingness to encourage dialogue remain crucial to strengthening the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections,” Abubakar said.
The forum also commended Matawalle’s efforts to restore confidence among party stakeholders and prevent further divisions. It said the lawmakers agreed to return to the APC after discussions with the minister, who reportedly presented them to Tinubu after they reaffirmed their allegiance to the President and the party.
However, the elders warned that the return of the eight lawmakers should not bring reconciliation efforts to an end. They urged the party leadership to address the concerns of other aggrieved members.
“Party unity must go beyond the return of elected officials; it must involve building trust and ensuring that every stakeholder has a sense of belonging,” the forum said.
Matawalle governed Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023 before losing his re-election bid to Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 governorship election. He was subsequently appointed Minister of State for Defence.
The latest development forms part of the APC’s efforts to consolidate its political base in Zamfara and mobilise support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The party’s ability to sustain the reconciliation process may depend on how it addresses outstanding grievances and accommodates the interests of its various stakeholders.
