Yari not backing Zamfara ADC gov candidate — APC chieftain
An APC chieftain, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has refuted claims that former Zamfara State Governor Abdul’aziz Yari is financially supporting the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate, Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi.
Intelligence analysis by Gemini 2.5 Flash
Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, has dismissed allegations circulating on social media that Senator Abdul’aziz Yari is sponsoring the ADC governorship candidate in Zamfara State. Shinkafi labeled these claims as false and mischievous, attributing them to political adversaries aiming to undermine Yari following his appointment as Director-General o…
Imagine a big school where kids want to be class captain. One important kid, Yari, is accused of secretly helping another kid, Bilyaminu, who wants to be captain of a different class. But Yari's friend, Shinkafi, says it's not true and that other kids who don't like Yari are just spreading rumors because Yari got a big job helping the head boy. Shinkafi says Bilyaminu is just a distant cousin who tried to get a spot in Yari's group but couldn't, so he joined another group.
Analysis
The political landscape in Zamfara State, Nigeria, is currently marked by allegations and counter-allegations, particularly concerning former Governor Abdul’aziz Yari. An APC chieftain, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has vehemently denied claims that Yari is covertly funding the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi. These accusations, according to Shinkafi, are the handiwork of political opponents seeking to tarnish Yari's reputation, especially after his recent appointment as the Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council for the upcoming 2027 elections. The denial underscores the high stakes involved in Nigerian politics, where loyalty and perceived betrayal can significantly impact a politician's standing and future prospects.
Abdul’aziz Yari
Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, a prominent figure in Zamfara State politics and a former governor, finds himself at the center of a political storm. His recent appointment to a crucial role in President Bola Tinubu's re-election campaign has seemingly intensified scrutiny and opposition. The allegations of sponsoring an opposition candidate are particularly damaging, as they imply a lack of commitment to his own party's objectives and leadership.
Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, in defending Yari, emphasized the former governor's dedication to the APC and Tinubu's re-election. He suggested that the spread of such 'fake news' is a deliberate strategy by those unhappy with Yari's elevated position within the party hierarchy. This situation reflects the cutthroat nature of Nigerian political contests, where character assassination and misinformation are often deployed as tools to gain an advantage or neutralize rivals.
Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi
The individual at the heart of the sponsorship allegations is Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate. The article clarifies that Bilyaminu is related to Yari by marriage, being a cousin to Yari's wife, who is the daughter of the late Umaru Shinkafi. This familial connection is presented as the basis for the false allegations, rather than any actual political sponsorship.
According to Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, Bilyaminu initially sought to contest for the Zamfara North Senatorial District seat under the APC platform but was not cleared by the party's screening committee for the 2027 elections. Following this setback, he reportedly joined the ADC to pursue his governorship ambition. This sequence of events suggests that Bilyaminu's move to an opposition party was a result of internal APC processes, rather than a coordinated effort with Yari, further debunking the claims of sponsorship.
Zamfara State House of Assembly
The article also touches upon another contentious issue involving eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, who recently resigned from the APC. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi explicitly denied that these lawmakers were political allies of Yari, countering another narrative circulating in the political sphere. He clarified that these members were suspended by the Assembly in February 2024 due to allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy, mischief, contempt of the House, and holding an unauthorized sitting.
Furthermore, Shinkafi pointed out that five of these lawmakers were originally elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections before defecting to the APC. This background, he argued, undermines any claims of their deep-seated allegiance to Yari. Despite Yari's efforts to mediate and resolve the dispute, including providing financial assistance to the suspended legislators whose entitlements were withheld, the matter remained unresolved, highlighting the complex and often fractious nature of state-level politics in Nigeria.
Key points
- APC chieftain Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi denied allegations that Abdul’aziz Yari is sponsoring ADC governorship candidate Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi.
- Shinkafi described the allegations as false and politically motivated, aimed at damaging Yari's reputation after his appointment as Tinubu/Shettima campaign DG.
- Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi is related to Yari by marriage and joined ADC after failing to secure an APC senatorial ticket.
- Shinkafi also denied that eight suspended Zamfara State House of Assembly members, who resigned from APC, were Yari's allies.
- The suspended lawmakers faced allegations of misconduct and had their entitlements withheld, with Yari reportedly providing them financial support.
- Efforts by Yari and other stakeholders to resolve the dispute with the Assembly leadership were unsuccessful.
If Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi's denial is widely accepted, it could strengthen Abdul’aziz Yari's position within the APC and the Tinubu/Shettima campaign, allowing him to focus on his role without the distraction of damaging allegations. This could foster greater unity within the party in Zamfara State and enhance public trust in Yari's leadership.
Despite the denial, the allegations could persist and continue to fuel political infighting, potentially undermining Yari's credibility and the APC's unity in Zamfara State. This could create internal divisions that distract from the party's campaign efforts for the 2027 elections and weaken its overall standing.
