Marafa: Legal action will be taken if Matawalle violates terms of joining APC

Kabir Marafa, former senator representing Zamfara central, says any attempt by Bello Matawalle, Zamfara governor, to violate the terms of his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be resisted.

It is not clear on what terms the governor joined the ruling party. He formally joined the APC from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday.

In a statement issued by Mika’ilu Barau, an associate of the former senator, Marafa was quoted as saying they had suggested that the formal ceremony marking Matawalle’s defection to the party be postponed until stakeholders meet to ratify the terms of his joining the APC.

“As part of the intermediate outcome of our engagements, we requested that the planned decamping ceremony happening today, 29th June, 2021 at Gusau, the capital of Zamfara state, should be delayed until a tripartite committee comprising the leadership of APC in Zamfara state, the decamping governor and the national leadership of APC meet to agree on the terms of the decamping,” Marafa said.

“We were made to understand that the ceremony could not be postponed due to the level of preparations reached. On this note, the

“Zamfara state chapter of APC under the leadership of His Excellency, the former Governor of Zamfara state, Hon. Abdul Aziz Yari Abubakar, proposed to opt out of the decamping ceremony and allow the national leadership to proceed while the Party plans to take appropriate actions.

“On the request of the caretaker Chairman through Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, the state and national leadership of the Party delegated Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa (CON) to brief members on the development and the terms of the engagements in Kaduna.

“One important condition of the engagement is to consider the event happening in Gusau as a mere ceremony that should be guided by the proposed tripartite meeting of the state leadership of APC, Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle group with him in person and the national leadership of the party.

“This tripartite meeting should be held within one week after the ceremony in Gusau.
Agreements reached during the tripartite meeting will be closely monitored by all the parties.

“Any attempt by the governor to violate the terms of the agreement will be contested. Also, apparent and perpetual violations of the terms will give both parties (APC or Governor Matawalle) the right to take necessary legal actions against the governor until justice prevails.