Zamfara State Governor has drawn a hard line against political defection, insisting that loyalty to the All Progressives Congress must be total and unambiguous. Speaking on behalf of his fellow governors, he delivered a pointed message to any APC member who has been quietly courting other parties behind the scenes.
“Be on one side. You can’t be in two sides,” he declared, addressing the controversy head-on. According to him, straddling party lines while claiming APC membership simply does not add up. “If you’re in APC, please come out and support APC,” he urged, adding that anyone caught “supporting other political parties somewhere else” was contradicting the very foundation of party loyalty.
Furthermore, the governor stressed that this standard isn’t unique to Nigeria’s political landscape. Rather, it reflects a universal principle. “It’s not done anywhere,” he explained, “and that is why we maintain our stance.” Consequently, he framed the party’s position as non-negotiable, stating plainly: “The message is very clear. He can say whatever he wants to say, but our position has been very, very clear.”
To drive the point home, the governor invoked a memorable phrase, declaring the party’s commitment runs “APC all the way from head to toe.” This wasn’t a passing remark; instead, it functioned as a rallying cry meant to reassure supporters that defection sentiments would not be tolerated within the ranks.
Turning to the matter of accountability, the governor revealed that the issue would soon reach the highest level of party leadership. “It’s something that we’ll take up with the president when he comes back,” he said. Beyond that, he called for absolute clarity going forward. “Let there be a very, very clear line where this guy belongs to,” he added. “It’s either he’s in APC or he’s out. It’s simple.” Notably, he aligned himself firmly with his fellow state executives, saying, “I go with my brothers, the governors.”
Meanwhile, the conversation shifted toward another controversy stirred up by Wike, who had previously suggested that some governors were “lazy.” Pressed to respond, the Zamfara governor handled the accusation with measured confidence rather than outright denial. “I know you are not lazy because of the work,” he acknowledged, before noting that Wike likely had specific individuals in mind. “He knows the people he’s referring to, honestly,” he said.
However, when it came to his own record, the governor was unwilling to let the comment slide unchallenged. “As for me, I mean, you can’t say that there’s some Zamfara State,” he responded, cutting the suggestion short before it could gain traction. He then extended an open invitation to skeptics and critics alike. “I invite anybody to come and see what we’re doing in some Zamfara State,” he said confidently, effectively challenging anyone doubting his administration’s productivity to witness it firsthand.
Taken together, these remarks paint a picture of a governor determined to project both party discipline and personal accountability. On one hand, he’s demanding ideological consistency from colleagues suspected of playing both sides. On the other, he’s defending his own government’s output against blanket criticism. Ultimately, his message ties both threads together: loyalty and performance aren’t just expectations, they’re standards he insists his administration is already meeting.
As tensions within APC’s ranks continue to simmer ahead of the president’s return, this latest exchange adds another layer to the ongoing rift. Whether the party leadership addresses the defection concerns directly remains to be seen, but for now, the Zamfara governor has made his position unmistakably clear.
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