The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State have traded accusations over the arrest of social media influencer Bashir Isah Gusau. The APC alleges that Governor Dauda Lawal used security personnel attached to the Government House to detain Gusau, an APC supporter, on Wednesday night.
According to the APC’s spokesperson, Alhaji Yusuf Idris, Gusau was taken by four men identifying themselves as DSS personnel from the Government House, who arrived in a vehicle with a covered license plate. The arrest occurred at a football viewing center in the Sabon Gari area of Gusau around 10 pm. Idris claims that when bystanders attempted to intervene, the security personnel fired live bullets to disperse the crowd, then sped away with Gusau to an unknown location.
The APC has expressed concern over Gusau’s whereabouts, stating that checks at local police stations revealed he was not in custody, and his phone lines were unreachable. Idris described the incident as an abuse of power and warned that the party would not remain silent. The APC has called on the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Service to intervene and has mobilized lawyers to challenge any unjust actions in court.
In response, the PDP’s spokesperson, Alhaji Haliru Andi, dismissed the APC’s claims as baseless and untrue. Andi insisted that Governor Lawal has not targeted opposition members since taking office in 2023 and has treated all residents equally, regardless of their political affiliations. He attributed the APC’s allegations to an attempt to tarnish the governor’s image, citing the administration’s focus on development and the governor’s commitment to serving all residents of Zamfara State.
The arrest of Bashir Isah Gusau has sparked a heated exchange between the two parties, with the APC accusing the PDP of using security personnel to intimidate opposition members ahead of the 2027 elections. The PDP, on the other hand, maintains that the allegations are unfounded and motivated by fear of the governor’s achievements. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the two parties in Zamfara State, with the APC calling for an investigation into Gusau’s arrest and the PDP denying any involvement.
