The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed former Senator Kabiru Marafa’s claim that he could strip President Bola Tinubu of one million votes in the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued by the state chairman, Tukur Danfulani, the party described Marafa’s remarks as baseless, labeling him “a rejected politician seeking relevance.”
The APC noted that Marafa was defeated in the 2019 senatorial election and failed to secure victory in his constituency during the 2023 polls. It stressed that Tinubu’s success in Zamfara during the last presidential election was largely influenced by key leaders such as Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence, and former Governor Abdulaziz Yari, not Marafa.
According to the statement, Marafa’s comments stemmed from frustration over repeated electoral defeats and his inability to secure appointments in President Tinubu’s government.
“It is laughable that Marafa, who couldn’t win even his ward of Yandoton Daji or his Tsafe Local Government, now boasts of reducing one million votes. From where will he get these votes, when Zamfara’s entire tally in 2023 wasn’t close to that figure?” the APC queried.
The party added that it ordinarily would have ignored Marafa’s remarks but chose to respond because he mentioned the President “in an uncivilized manner.” It further emphasized that the Zamfara APC remains “united and formidable,” citing its recent victory in the Kaura Namoda South State Assembly bye-election as evidence.
Meanwhile, the state chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition has expressed interest in welcoming Marafa into its fold. The coalition’s chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Sa’id, said the former senator’s experience would help strengthen their political base across Zamfara and beyond.
“We welcome him; the coalition welcomes everybody to the party. As you can see, we have several people here, some are from the APC, some are from LP, NRM and even some political parties that are not well known have joined us in this coalition,” Sa’id noted.
Marafa, who previously coordinated the Tinubu/Shettima 2023 Presidential Campaign Council in Zamfara, had declared on September 1, 2025, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, that he would deny President Tinubu one million votes in the 2027 election.
“Now, whether Mr President would win or not is a question of seeing, but I want to assure you something today. I am going to deduct one million votes out of Mr President’s votes that he got in 2023. Mark my words. 2027 is going to determine who is a featherweight,” he declared.
What You Should Know
Marafa’s bold claim and the APC’s sharp rebuttal highlight deepening political rifts in Zamfara, a key northern state, ahead of the 2027 elections.
Zamfara’s 2023 presidential vote saw Tinubu secure 298,258 votes against Atiku Abubakar’s 194,147, per INEC data, making Marafa’s one-million-vote threat statistically implausible, as the state’s total votes were far lower.
His exit from the APC, driven by internal disputes and loss of influence, fuels his pivot toward opposition platforms like the ADC coalition, which is actively consolidating defectors to challenge the APC’s dominance. The APC’s reference to its Kaura Namoda bye-election win on August 17, 2025, signals confidence, but Marafa’s local influence, particularly in Tsafe, could still sway smaller voter blocs.
This feud, amplified on X where users debate Marafa’s relevance, underscores Nigeria’s volatile political landscape, with Tinubu’s administration facing growing criticism over economic hardships and northern discontent. The ADC’s outreach to Marafa suggests a broader strategy to exploit APC divisions, potentially reshaping Zamfara’s electoral dynamics.
