The Minister of State for Defence, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, has come under fire following allegations that he is using his political influence to lure members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the Northern Elders Unity Forum of the PDP, Matawalle has allegedly been engaging in “reckless and undemocratic tactics” aimed at dismantling the opposition party’s structure in Zamfara State and other parts of the North-West.
The Forum, in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Dr. Abbas Sadauki (Dan Madamin Tofa), accused the former Zamfara governor of exploiting state resources and his ministerial position to induce PDP officials, elected representatives, and loyal supporters to defect.
The PDP elders said Matawalle’s ongoing political moves are part of a broader strategy to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Matawalle has embarked on a desperate mission to dismantle the PDP structure in Zamfara and across the North-West. His antecedents of using power and appointments to induce defections have created leadership vacuums and threatened the growth of democracy in our region,” the statement read in part.
The Forum also alleged that several PDP members had been misled by promises of appointments and financial benefits, describing the trend as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic balance and multiparty system.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently call Matawalle to order. His excessive interference and political desperation pose a serious danger to democracy and the principle of fair political competition in Nigeria,” Dr. Sadauki added.
Reports from Zamfara indicate that over 24,000 PDP members, including former executives and elders from six local government areas, have so far joined the APC amid growing political realignments in the region.
