AFNews World

MATAWALLE: THE ENDURING POLITICAL FORCE AND GRASSROOTS LEADER OF ZAMFARA AND NORTH WESTERN NIGERIA . The political landscape of Zamfara State and the wider Northern region continues to be shaped by leaders whose influence is measured by service, loyalty, and tangible impact on the lives of the people. In this regard, the Honourable Minister of State for Defence,  Bello Mohammed Matawalle, MON, stands out as a defining figure whose popularity, acceptability, and political strength remain unmatched. Matawalle’s leadership is anchored in consistent grassroots engagement and a record of humanitarian development that has directly touched youths, women, traditional institutions, and vulnerable communities across Zamfara and beyond. From educational support and skills acquisition programs to targeted interventions in health and economic empowerment, his contributions have earned him widespread recognition and trust at the grassroots level. By contrast, political relevance cann...

Kaduna APC Stakeholders Endorse Shehu Sani for Senate Ahead of 2027 Primaries Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone have endorsed former senator, Shehu Sani, as their preferred candidate ahead of the party’s primaries for the 2027 general elections. The endorsement was announced on Wednesday at a meeting attended by commissioners, local government chairmen, party executives and key political figures from the seven local government areas in the zone.  The gathering, which took place at the Uba Sani Support Group office in Malali, Kaduna, drew a large number of supporters and influential stakeholders within the state. Convener of the meeting and Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Hon. Sadiq Mamman Lagos, said the endorsement followed extensive consultations among party leaders and stakeholders across the zone. He clarified that the APC remains open to all aspirants, stressing that the party is not restricting anyone ...

Group accuses Shettima of using a Fake Ambassadorial title A political pressure group has accused a Kaduna-based politician, Yerima Usman Shettima, of allegedly using a fake ambassadorial title in his political campaign materials ahead of the 2027 general elections. The group, operating under the banner of Concerned Citizens for Democratic Accountability, described the use of the title “Ambassador” on Shettima’s campaign posters as misleading, deceptive and capable of creating false impressions among members of the public. The group in a press statement signed by the  spokesperson, Comrade  Ibrahim Musa, challenged Shetima to publicly explain the source and legitimacy of the title he has allegedly adopted in his political activities. According to the statement, there is no known official record showing that Shetima was ever appointed as an ambassador by the Federal Government of Nigeria or any recognised international body. “We are demanding clear explanations from...

President Tinubu’s Northern Support Base Rests on Performance, Not Individuals-Group  The claim that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu requires Senator Abdulaziz Yari to secure Zamfara or Northern votes in 2027 does not reflect the political realities on the ground. Electoral support in the North is driven by performance, party structure, and the capacity of leaders to deliver results for their people. Matawalle’s Track Record in Zamfara and the North *1. Sacrifice for Party Victory in 2023*   In the 2023 general elections, then-Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle prioritized President Tinubu’s national victory over his own re-election bid. He mobilized his political structure across Zamfara to deliver votes for the APC presidential ticket, demonstrating loyalty to the party and the President at a critical moment. *2. Grassroots Acceptance and Human Capital Development*   Dr. Matawalle is widely regarded as one of the most accessible and impactful political ...

Captivity by Creed: The Religious Sorting System Nobody Talks About Inside the two-tier captivity system of Fulani ethnic militias — where faith determines who suffers, how much a life is worth, and whether a hostage comes home at all. By Steven Kefas May 2026 The terrorists conveniently called bandits by the media had a rule. They stated it plainly, in the open, in front of their captives: Fulani people would not be taken. They were brothers. Christians  and certain Muslims majorly non-Fulani were fair game. What happened next depended entirely on which category you fell into. Sunday Cletus was abducted on 28 February 2026, while travelling through Kachia Local Government Area in Kaduna State. What he witnessed and endured over the days that followed was not random cruelty. It was, according to his account and the findings of extensive field research spanning multiple states and multiple years, a system, deliberate, consistent, and organised around two variables: relig...

CLARIFYING THE RECORD ON APC UNITY AND LEADERSHIP IN ZAMFARA AND THE NORTH Recent remarks by Sani Abdullahi Jaji, an aide to former Zamfara Governor Abdulaziz Yari, suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu risks political setbacks in the North in 2027 if Senator Yari leaves the APC, require a balanced response in the interest of factual clarity and party cohesion. 1. *Commitment to Tinubu’s 2023 Victory*      In the 2023 presidential elections, the then Governor of Zamfara State,  Bello Mohammed Matawalle, MON, prioritized the success of President Tinubu over his own gubernatorial re-election. He channeled his political structure, resources, and goodwill toward ensuring Tinubu’s victory nationwide, while others focused on personal electoral ambitions. 2. *Grassroots Acceptance and Service to Zamfara Citizens*      Matawalle remains one of the most politically relevant and widely accepted leaders in Zamfara State. His interventi...