Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed comments attributed to former Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa, who reportedly vowed to deny President Bola Ahmed Tinubu one million votes in the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement issued in Gusau by the APC Chairman in Zamfara State, Tukur Umar Danfulani, said Marafa lacked the political influence to make such claims, described it as empty threats borne out of frustration.
Danfulani recalled that, Marafa lost his senatorial seat in 2019 and alleged that, he was unable to deliver his constituency in the 2023 general elections.
“As a political party, the APC in Zamfara has come across an interview granted by former Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa threatening to reduce one million votes tally from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu votes which he claimed to secure to win the 2023 presidential election in the northwest for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that he will stop the President from getting such votes in 2027”
He added that, the APC’s victory in Zamfara was largely due to the confidence of the electorate in the party and the efforts of key stakeholders, including the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and former Governor Abdulaziz Yari.
“Even in 2023, Marafa could not win his ward, local government, or constituency, yet he is boasting of reducing one million votes from President Tinubu’s tally.
According to Danfulani, the total votes cast in Zamfara were not up to that figure.
“Matawalle, the present Minister of State for Defence now, served as the Tinubu/Shatima Presidential Campaigns Council for the whole of northwest and initially to double as the Zamfara State coordinator but seeing that, the work would be overwhelming, suggested the Zamfara coordination on Marafa which was reluctantly approved because he (Marafa) did not merit it” he alleged
The party chairman further alleged that, Marafa’s relationship with the APC leadership had been strained since he failed to secure a major appointment in the Tinubu administration.
He accused the former senator for engaging in anti-party activities during the recent Kaura Namoda South State House of Assembly bye-election, where the APC emerged victorious against the PDP.
Danfulani also recalled Marafa’s past political alliances, claiming that, he benefited from the support of former Governor Yari and other leaders before falling out with them.
According to him, what Zamfara people expect from Senator Marafa is to explain how many votes he personally delivered in the last elections instead of peddling propaganda that is dead on arrival.
“Let’s put the records straight, what is expected from Senator Marafa during the interview is to tell the world how many votes he secured himself and that of his opponent in the last election before talking about reducing President Bola Ahmed votes while peddling lies and parapaganda that are dead on arrival”
He urged Marafa to reassess his popularity in Zamfara, saying that, the APC remained united and strong in the state.
According to Danfulani, the party would have not responded to him but since his unguarded statements touched on the President in an uncivilised manner that, they had no option.
REL/AMINU DALHATU.
