Politics
‘Jaji Is Nothing Without Matawalle, Yari’— Zamfara APC Slams ‘Serial Betrayer’
Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State have launched a scathing attack on Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, the lawmaker representing Birnin Magaji/Kaura Namoda Federal Constituency, accusing him of disloyalty and political betrayal.
The group, speaking through its spokesperson, Abdulkadir Suleiman Zurmi, claimed that Jaji owes his political rise to former Zamfara governor and current Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, as well as Senator Abdullaziz Yari.
They alleged that despite benefiting from their support, Jaji has turned against them.
Zurmi likened Jaji’s actions to “biting the fingers that fed him”, arguing that Matawalle had helped resurrect his political career after the 2023 election.
“Nigerians, especially the people of Zamfara, should note that Jaji holds no significant influence in the state’s political landscape.
“Now that Matawalle and Yari have helped him, he is turning against them. Jaji cannot even win an election on his own if left to handle it independently.”
“There is no way a leopard can change its skin.”
The group also questioned Jaji’s claims of spending 25 billion naira (approximately $27 million) during the 2023 presidential election, challenging him to disclose the source of such a vast sum.
They suggested that his statements reflect “a clear malfunction of the brain” and argued that he lacks any legitimate business that could generate such funds.
Jaji, who was recently suspended from the APC, has also accused of working against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Furthermore, they criticized Jaji for allegedly favoring Governor Dauda Lawal of the PDP while sidelining APC leaders. The group cited 2024 political event in Birnin Magaji, where Jaji reportedly invited Lawal but failed to acknowledge key APC figures.
The APC members urged Jaji to realign himself with the party, respect senior politicians, and cease what they described as “double-dealing.”
The statement warned that continued attacks on President Tinubu and party leaders could harm his political career.
The group accused Hon. Jaji of undermining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s interests, despite his associates securing key appointments in the administration.
“Despite two of his close associates, Mansur Khalifa and Dan Maigoro, directly benefiting from presidential appointments, he continues to work against the president due to his strong ties with the PDP and Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal Dare. His actions within his zone openly demonstrate his support for the PDP, revealing where his true loyalties lie”
“During the 2023 presidential election, Jaji was reportedly involved in efforts to block Tinubu’s emergence, though APC leaders like Abdulaziz Yari and Bello Matawalle ensured the party’s victory.
“Additionally, Governor Dauda Lawal suspended All Progressive Congress members in the Zamfara State House of Assembly, except two APC members jaji’s loyalist as a reward for Jaji’s role in sabotaging the party’s success in the state in favor of the PDP.
Jaji’s unsuccessful bid for Speaker of the House, allegedly against Tinubu’s wishes, has fueled speculation about his political opposition to the president.
“Despite his fallout with the presidency, his associates continue to benefit from government appointments, raising concerns that these positions are being used to undermine Tinubu.
“Jaji is forging an alliance with the opposition to strengthen Dauda’s influence in Zamfara, an act seen as a betrayal of the APC.”
Zurmi said Matawalle has served as a commissioner, a member of the House of Representatives for 12 years, a one-term governor, and is currently the Minister of State for Defence.
Similarly, Senator Abdul Aziz Yari is a former governor of Zamfara State, a former member of the House of Representatives, and is now serving as a senator.
“Therefore, the position of a House of Representatives member should not inflate one’s ego or lead to misconduct, as it does not compare to their political stature.
You shamelessly betrayed Abdulaziz Yari, despite owing your rise and status to him. Instead of loyalty, you repaid Yari with insults, accusations, and slander. Your manipulative nature drives conflicts and stirs divisions for personal gain, pretending to protect interests while proving yourself untrustworthy. The hypocrisy is clear— you criticizes Yari yet use his name when convenient. The world has seen through you and this isn’t going to work.”
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, says he is willing to step down his presidential ambition in the 2027 elections for a better politician to emerge as the flag bearer of his party.
The lawyer stated this on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.
“Everybody knows that I have an aspiration. I’m working on it but God is the author of tomorrow; we don’t even know who is going to be around in 2027,” Adebayo said.
“It is my prayer to God that if there is a person who God thinks is better than me to fix the problem of Nigeria, my ambition should not stop that person because we want a country that works. That is the kind of thing we are working on at this time.”
Adebayo said the SDP would give Nigerians a candidate that all citizens would be proud of and be ready to give a chance to unseat President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election.
The politician said the SDP won’t divide Nigerians along the delicate lines of religion and ethnicity.
He said, “What used to be an easy discussion – with religion and ethnicity – has become explosive now. So, we will not use the SDP forum to try to bifurcate our people into different zones.
“What we are looking for now is a system where when we make a choice in the SDP, there will be resounding joy outside the SDP and Nigerians will say: ‘Okay, finally, this platform has given the country a chance’.”
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for publicly acknowledging his efforts and calling him “Mr Infrastructure.”
Speaking to State House correspondents after the 2025 Eid-el-Fitr homage at the Presidential Villa, Wike described the President’s praise as a strong vote of confidence and a motivation to keep delivering results for residents of the FCT.
“I feel very happy that my boss has confidence in me,” Wike said. “If your boss, in public, says you are doing well, that, of course, is an encouragement for you to continue doing the job you’ve been assigned.”
The Minister, who has spearheaded a series of infrastructure and service delivery reforms across Abuja, said he remains committed to meeting the expectations of both the President and the people of the territory.
“For us, we’re happy to be identified in this administration, and we’ll continue to do what Abuja people will be happy with,” he said. “So I’m happy each time Mr. President talks about us and tries to say the little we have done. That means he’s watching, and we will not disappoint him.”
When asked about the next wave of infrastructure projects expected as the Tinubu administration approaches its second anniversary, Wike confirmed that a fresh round of projects is already in the works.
“The committee is working,” he revealed. “You can be assured it can’t be less than what we did last time.”
The Senator who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly, Shehu Sani has declared interest for re-election in the 2027 general elections.
Shehu Sani made the declaration on Sunday while delivering his Eid-el-Fitr message at his residence in Kaduna.
He said, “any politician who is going to contest election will be dependent on political equation which will determine what position is going to contest. I would say that if the conditions are rights and equations favourable, I will offer myself to contest but specifically on the central senatorial district”.
“If the people of Kaduna central want us to provide our own kind of leadership and representation at the NASS, you should expect me back to Senate in 2027”.
According to him, his ambition is secondary while that of re-electing governor Sani for second term is primary.
He reiterated that his priority is to see governor Uba Sani re-elected in 2027.
“For now, we want to see that incumbent governor, Uba Sani is re-elected. We are going to do it with all our mights and strengths, we know that they are going to be challenges and opposition but we are well prepared for all the forces”.
Shehu Sani however, urged Muslims to pray for peace and unity of Nigeria during the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr.
Sani who also reacted to killing of hunters in Edo State condemned the act and urged security agencies to fish-out the perpetrators.
He said, “If any citizen of this country cannot move from one part of the country to another, then we are not a nation.
“If someone will use one reason or another to take laws into his/her hand then it means there is no government or authority”.
He added that Nigerians who desire good for the country should work for peace and unity for the preservation of our democracy in the phase of challenges that is being experienced by our people, he said.
Sani however, called on government to save Nigeria, saying that there should be respect for fundamental rights and most importantly is respect to right to life, he added.