The Northern Elders Unity Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, of masterminding large-scale defections of PDP members in the North-West through what it described as “monetary inducement and intimidation.”
The Forum, in a statement made available to our correspondent by its National Secretary, Dr. Abbas Sadauki, condemned what it called the “desperate antics” of the former Zamfara governor to weaken the opposition in the region ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to Dr Sadauki, “Matawalle has been using his ministerial position and ill-gotten wealth to lure PDP members – particularly in Zamfara and Kaduna states — into joining the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“Matawalle’s desperate attempt to destroy the PDP in Zamfara and beyond is a direct assault on democracy and the right to political choice,” Sadauki stressed after a meeting with PDP elders from Kaura Namoda, Zurmi, Tsafe, and Bungudu local governments.
The Forum further alleged that the minister’s actions were part of a broader plan to dismantle opposition structures in the North-West and pave the way for the APC’s dominance in the 2027 polls.
“Dismantling opposition groups through financial inducement and coercion is a bad omen for our democracy,” Sadauki warned, insisting that “Many loyal members are being deceived into believing they will find greener pastures in the APC.
“This is dangerous for democratic stability.”
The Forum called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rein in the minister, warning that his actions could further polarise the political landscape and undermine fair competition.
“We urge President Tinubu to call Matawalle to order before he causes irreversible damage to Nigeria’s democratic balance,” the statement added.
Arewa PUNCH reports that from Zamfara alone, investigations have revealed that over 24,000 PDP members, including several ward and local government executives, have defected to the APC in recent months—fueling tensions between the ruling and opposition parties in the state.
