The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a stern warning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), threatening legal action over what it described as false and defamatory allegations linking the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, to kidnapping incidents in the state.
In a statement released on Wednesday by the party’s spokesperson, Yusuf Idris Gusau, the APC condemned recent remarks made by Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Dauda Lawal, accusing him of spreading baseless and politically motivated claims.
The APC’s reaction followed an emergency meeting of its State Working Committee (SWC), chaired by Hon. Tukur Umar Danfulani, to address what it termed “provocative” statements made by Kaura in an online video interview.
“The lies being peddled by the Zamfara State Government, especially against Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, are not only misleading but must be investigated,” the statement read.
According to the APC, Kaura falsely alleged that Matawalle was involved in the December 2020 abduction of over 300 students from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State. He further claimed Matawalle collected ₦300 million from then-Katsina Governor Aminu Bello Masari to secure the students’ release but delivered only ₦30 million to the kidnappers.
Describing the allegations as “character assassination” and “open insults,” the APC defended Matawalle and other party leaders including Senator Abdulaziz Yari, stating that the accusations were designed to tarnish their image.
“The APC, which vigorously tackled banditry during Matawalle’s administration, takes strong exception to these falsehoods and has directed its legal team to file a lawsuit,” the statement continued.
The party challenged Kaura to present evidence of his claims, including those involving other high-profile abductions such as the February 2021 abduction of over 270 female students from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, and the attack on the College of Agriculture and Animal Science in Bakura.
The APC maintained that many victims were rescued under Matawalle’s leadership, with consistent support provided to affected communities, citing towns like Gwaram, Kanoma, Kaya, Faru, Janbako, Lilo, and Anka as examples of security interventions.
In addition to legal action against Kaura, the APC is also considering suing Maibiredi TV, the media platform that aired the interview, alleging a coordinated effort to discredit its members.
The statement accused the PDP-led state government of attempting to shift attention from its own failures by inciting public sentiment and launching smear campaigns.
“This reckless outburst against Matawalle and Yari is a reflection of the PDP’s fear of the growing popularity and acceptance of our leaders,” the APC declared.
The party urged its members to remain calm and law-abiding, expressing confidence that the truth would emerge through legal channels.
