Former All Progressives Congress Senator Kabiru Marafa has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, branding him a leader who exploits political allies before discarding them.
The Zamfara State politician, who recently severed ties with the ruling party, made these explosive allegations during a television interview on Channels TV Monday evening.
Marafa pointed to the treatment of several high-profile APC figures as evidence of what he termed Tinubu’s opportunistic leadership approach. He specifically cited the experiences of former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-party National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, and himself as proof of the President’s pattern of abandoning former allies.
“Looking at the treatment of El-Rufai, the treatment of Ganduje, and the treatment of me, we are now convinced that Mr. President is a ‘use and dump leader,'” the former senator declared.
The criticism carries particular weight given Marafa’s previous loyalty to Tinubu’s political project. He served as the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Coordinator for Zamfara State during the successful 2023 election campaign before announcing his party exit over the weekend.
In a dramatic escalation of his opposition, Marafa issued a direct challenge to the President’s 2027 re-election prospects, vowing to significantly impact Tinubu’s vote count in the next presidential contest.
“I’m going to deduct one million out of Mr. President’s votes that he got in 2023. Mark my words. I’m going to do it. I would work for it and by the special grace of God, I’m going to win that,” the former campaign coordinator stated with conviction.
Marafa’s defection and subsequent attacks represent a significant blow to the APC’s unity, particularly given his instrumental role in delivering Zamfara State for Tinubu in the last election cycle.
The allegations add to growing concerns about internal cohesion within the ruling party as various factions position themselves ahead of the 2027 political season.
