The renewed call for the removal of Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has little to do with security concerns as publicly projected, and everything to do with a fierce political struggle for the control of the APC structure in Zamfara State. Multiple insiders familiar with the ongoing power play confirm that Senator Kabiru Marafa is “the arrowhead” coordinating the pressure campaign against Matawalle at the national level.
According to sources within the party, Marafa’s objective is to weaken the influence of the former governor and open the door for Governor Dauda Lawal to consolidate power over the APC machinery in the state, despite being elected on the platform of the PDP. “The entire narrative being sold to the public about insecurity failures is just a political cover,” one senior party official revealed. “This is about structure, control, and a pre-2027 game plan.”
Party insiders say the strategy revolves around presenting Matawalle as a liability in the fight against banditry, creating public pressure that can justify his displacement. With the minister removed, they argue, Marafa and his allies can push for a political realignment that favors Lawal, who has been quietly courting key APC stakeholders despite their partisan differences. “It’s a calculated effort to take APC from within,” another source said.
Senior figures within the national leadership of the APC are reportedly aware of the plot, but are treading cautiously, given the sensitivity of national security matters and the political implications of openly undermining a sitting minister. Some believe the agenda could destabilize the party if not properly managed, especially in a state where partisan loyalties often shift with strategic interests.
The presidency is said to be monitoring the situation closely, with signals that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not inclined to entertain political manoeuvres disguised as national security concerns. Those close to Matawalle argue that while he faces legitimate operational challenges in a complex security environment, attempts to tie his removal to insecurity are “disingenuous” and merely a smokescreen for a deeper power struggle. As one insider summed it: “This is not about bandits. It’s about 2027.”