2023 : The hurdles before Zamfara APC

By: Umar Maradun

The victory of PDP in the just concluded governorship elections in Osun state might have raised the hope of PDP supporters in all nooks and crannies of the country, though, the political pattern in Zamfara state might have differ from what was obtained in Osun and other states of he federation.

Hitherto, the intervention of the APC national Leadership, which gave birth to the reconciliation of the scattered APC in the state.

Prior to the reconciliation, APC was divided into three factions with each claiming authority over one another, but the factions were however reduced to two just as Sen. Marafa's faction got nuetralized into Yari's faction.

The unification of the warring factions of the Governorr Matawalle, former Governorr Abdul'Aziz Yari and that of Sen. Kabir Marafa no doubt boost the chances of APC in winning the 2023 election.

Infact, there was serious apprehension even at the national level the fate of APC without the two strong politicians within it's fold, Yari and Mafara. Additionally, APC would have sacrifice Zamfara.

But, with doggedness of Governor Matawalle in having true and genuine reconciliation with the aggrieved members gave a new direction and sense of belonging to the party.

The insistence of Governor Matawalle to bring back the aggrieved members against all odds had attracted him accolades and justify his commitment to democratic principles.

Well, it was on record, the supporters of both side felt bad for the coming together of the factions, the supporters of Governor Bello Matawalle kicked against the reconciliation because in their own view incumbency factor was enough to win the 2023 election. The same thing with Yari's faction capitalized on the mass support of followers to win the election on any political party.

No doubt, Zamfara APC is confident of winning the 2023  election, with caliber.of strong politicians in the party and incumbency advantage. 

Notwithstanding, the APC ought buckle up in order to justify the anticipated election victory, as the opposition PDP has started recuperating from the hammer of Matawalle's defection.

The PDP, with a strong gubernatorial candidate in person of Dr

 Dauda Lawan Dare was also, capitalizing on some factors to penatorate into the electorate and get it's way.

Amongst the factors PDP would cash in the 2023 election was the APC imposition of some.unpopular candidates in Gummi/Bukkuyum federal constituency, Zurmi/Shinkafi, Federal Constituency, Anka/Mafara Federal Constituency, Bakura/Maradun Federal Constituency and Gusau/Tsafe Federal Constituency as the current members of the affected federal constituencies have already rejoined their former party, the PDP.

The PDP also, spread it's drag net in recruiting new members as just recently some.promimant members of the APC including a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Sulaiman Gummi.

Also, engaged in the recruitments of more supporters to the candidature of the PDP candidate was the engagement of his media associates who apart from promoting his political programmes, used his alliance with the permanent secretary in the Government House to penetrate within the government circle.

The APC critical stakeholders' need to know that, the news medium of the PDP promoter secure a lot of money through the connivance of the permanent secretary, infact, PDP is getting financial support in the name of the publicity.

Besides, part of the strategy also used by the Dauda Media Associate in luring some key government officials was pledge of  appointments into lucrative positions in the event of PDP victory in the 2023 elections.

In politics, one should'nt underrate opponent no matter the numerical strength of his supporters in the party, just as going by historical precedence, all key stakeholders in the Zamfara APC could remember the event in 2011, when quite a number of top civil servants and key political appointees in the state ditched Governor Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi and throw their weight behind the opposing camp. ENDs