By Idris Salisu, Gusau

Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, has condemned an attack on him by political thugs during a wedding ceremony at the Jumu’at Mosque in Gusau last Friday.

Speaking at a press conference in his Gusau residence on Saturday night, Dr. Shinkafi, a four-time governorship candidate under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), described the incident as an alarming political development. He urged the APC leadership to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the attack.

Dr. Shinkafi recounted that the attack occurred as he exited the mosque with his entourage after attending the marriage ceremony of a political associate’s children. He alleged that members of an APC-affiliated gang armed with dangerous weapons attempted to eliminate him but were thwarted by the swift intervention of security personnel.

The attack followed Dr. Shinkafi’s recent press conference in Gusau, where he criticized security agencies for their inability to apprehend notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji. Shinkafi had described Turji’s video clip threatening violence in Sokoto and Zamfara as a slap to Nigerian security forces.

Dr. Shinkafi alleged that the attack was politically motivated and orchestrated by disgruntled APC members unhappy with his call for party unity to avoid a repeat of the failures experienced during the 2019 and 2023 general elections.

“I recognize all those who carried dangerous weapons during the attempted murder against me. They are card-carrying members of the APC,” he stated.

He vowed to ensure that those responsible for the attack are brought to justice, emphasizing his commitment to exercising his constitutional rights and addressing issues related to insecurity and the APC’s internal affairs.

Dr. Shinkafi appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC stakeholders to intervene in the party’s internal crisis in Zamfara to secure its future success in the 2027 general elections.

“I will continue to speak on issues affecting insecurity in the state and our party’s unity until we achieve victory in the next elections. The mistakes of the past will not be repeated as long as I remain an APC member,” he affirmed.

The Zamfara APC chieftain expressed his determination to hold the party accountable and ensure unity to reposition the APC for electoral success in the state.