The Zamfara State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Hon. Zilfikar Auwal Tambaya (Maina Tsafe) has said that the PDP is fully prepared to take over the leadership of Zamfara State in the 2027 general elections.
Hon. Zilfikar stated this during the 9th edition of the party's live radio interactive programme, GASKIYA BATA NEMAN ADO, held on Thursday, October 1st, 2026.
The Chairman began his remarks by extending condolences to the people of Rawayya over the tragic loss of lives that occurred recently, saying the loss affects all of us in Zamfara. He prayed to Allah to forgive the souls of those who lost their lives and make Jannatul Firdaus their final abode.
Speaking on the 2027 elections, the PDP Chairman said the party has come with full force and seriousness.
"The PDP has not come to joke, we have come to take back government. The entire people of Zamfara, especially our youth, are tired and fed up with this crippled governance being imposed on us in this state by people who do not know the pains of Zamfara, let alone have love for it," he said.
He said Engineer Ibrahim Shehu Bakauye is one of the sons of those who laboured and struggled for the creation of Zamfara State, and that the time has come to give the sons of the founders of the state a chance to govern and end what he described as "government by strangers."
According to him, there is a huge difference between those who came to Zamfara by settlement and the true indigenes of the state. He explained that a person who is not a true indigene, when given power, governs without the love and passion for the state and its people, while a true son of the soil governs with genuine concern for the state and its citizens.
"Engineer Ibrahim Shehu Bakauye who is now contesting for Governor, his father is a complete and true indigene of Zamfara State. It was his love for the state that made him join those who fought for the creation of Zamfara State," Zilfikar stated.
He announced that the governorship candidate will soon make a powerful entry into Zamfara to reclaim the state from strangers in the coming 2027 election.
The PDP Chairman lamented the worsening insecurity in the state, saying no one is spared, neither adult nor child.
"Zamfara today, old and young are tasting the bitter pain of insecurity because of the negligence of this government. There is no empathy. The leaders of this state do not even visit communities to condole them wherever terrorist killings happen," he lamented.
He cited the situation in Gusau, the state capital, where he said small children displaced by bandits are seen begging.
"In Gusau, the capital city, you see small children begging, some don't even know their parents because attacks by terrorists have scattered them. Wallahi, there is a small child I saw that I even shed tears, because I am sure this child does not even know his father. I stayed till 12:00 am, I could not sleep because my eyes could not comprehend what they saw. Around 11:00 pm to 12:00 am, if you go near Investment House Gusau along the express, you will see them. Where is the government's concern for the people?"
He said this is why they want to take over government and test a true indigene with the wisdom to tackle these calamities when Engineer Ibrahim Shehu Bakauye becomes governor.
On the economy, the Chairman said Zamfara has received more money under the present administration than any other government in the history of the state, yet there is nothing to show for it.
"Zamfara has got money that no government in Zamfara has ever gotten, but sadly, a disgraceful thing happened in my own local government Tsafe, between Tsafe Local Government and the Emirate Council. And I ask, show me two projects done in Zamfara that are not counter-funded? Where is the money being sent to the state going? This is not the time to discuss this, but we will open it widely when the time comes, when Engineer Ibrahim Shehu Bakauye enters the state, we will explain to everyone what is happening with concrete evidence," he said.
He added that even the little money the government gives to Local Government Chairmen is not enough to run the affairs of the local governments.
"Our hope is that when Engineer Ibrahim Shehu becomes Governor, you will see a local government chairman leading his area like a small governor, because if chairmen are given opportunity, you will see the people of the area enjoying, unemployment will reduce, and that will end terrorism in this state."
He described the recent killings and kidnappings in broad daylight between Bungudu and Tsafe as the peak of pain.
The Chairman debunked the claim that state government has no control over security agencies, saying it is a lie.
"Any government that says it has no power over security agents is lying. For example, today when they went for the celebration of Zamfara @30, how many security vehicles came to protect them? Who gave them the order if not the government? But because they take us for fools, they come and tell us that they have no power to order them to improve security. That is a lie," he said.
Finally, he disclosed that Engineer Ibrahim Shehu Bakauye will enter Zamfara soon, but before then, they are waiting for all the "contract aspirants" to finish entering.
"Before he enters, we will wait until the contract aspirants finish entering, the fake ones finish entering, the deceivers finish entering entirely, then Engineer Ibrahim Shehu, the man of honour and action, will make a massive entry that will shake the entire state, and when he enters, there will be no going back, we will continue campaigning till the election day in 2027."
