A prominent figure in Zamfara politics, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has officially declared his intention to run for governor in the 2027 elections under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Shinkafi, who once served as the National Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), made his announcement during a gathering with supporters in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
He vowed to challenge what he described as the long-standing dominance of a single political zone in the state’s leadership structure.
According to him, the APC must embrace internal democracy and fairness in choosing candidates ahead of the 2027 polls.
“The era of political imposition is gone. Every member of our great party has an equal right to contest and be heard,” Shinkafi asserted, drawing loud applause from his supporters.
He criticised the political imbalance that, he said, had persisted since the state’s creation. Shinkafi pointed out that Zamfara West Senatorial Zone had produced most of the state’s leaders, while other regions remained marginalised.
“For nearly 26 years, Zamfara West has held onto power, from Governor Ahmed Sani Yarima’s eight years and twelve years in the Senate, to Abdulaziz Yari’s two terms, and then Bello Matawalle’s four years,” he noted. “It is time for Zamfara North to take its turn.”
Shinkafi argued that equitable distribution of leadership would promote unity and development across all parts of the state. “If every region feels included, we will have less division and more progress,” he said.
However, not all within the APC share his view. Another influential party chieftain, Aminu Muhammad Kaura, has publicly endorsed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, as the preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship race.
Kaura maintained that Matawalle’s experience and leadership qualities made him the best choice for the APC in the next election cycle.
“Many stakeholders are already aligning behind Matawalle because he represents stability and unity in our party,” Kaura explained.
The unfolding rivalry between Shinkafi and Matawalle loyalists signals what could become one of the most competitive APC primaries in Zamfara’s political history.
AFRIPOST, however, reports that the contest will likely redefine the power balance in the state’s ruling party ahead of 2027.