A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has appealed to the party’s national chairman to address the alleged exclusion of some members from the ongoing electronic registration exercise. In a letter dated January 14, Shinkafi claimed that members of his political movement, “Wamban Shinkafi Democratic Front,” have been denied membership across the 14 local government areas and 147 wards in the state.
The APC has commenced electronic registration of members in all 14 local government areas of Zamfara State. However, Shinkafi alleged that the state chapter of the party has directed local government and ward chairmen to exclude members loyal to him and his movement. He stated that this exclusion breaches Article 9(1) of the party’s constitution, which guarantees membership to all eligible individuals.
Shinkafi’s complaint is based on reports from his coordinators across the state, who claim that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, masterminded the exclusion. This alleged move has created fear of party factionalization and disunity among members. Shinkafi has urged the national chairman to constitute an independent investigative panel to address the issue and sanction anyone found guilty of compromising the registration exercise.
The APC’s electronic registration exercise aims to enhance transparency and accuracy in membership records. However, Shinkafi’s allegations suggest that the process may have been compromised by local party leaders. He emphasized the need for transparency, fairness, and impartiality in the exercise to ensure that all eligible members, including those from his movement, are registered without intimidation or harassment.
The APC’s national leadership has been urged to address the issue promptly to avoid a repeat of past electoral losses to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Shinkafi’s appeal highlights the importance of internal party democracy and the need for the APC to ensure that its membership registration process is free from manipulation and bias. The outcome of this appeal will be crucial in maintaining party unity and credibility in Zamfara State.
