The Kebbi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended the Chairman of Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area and Kebbi State ALGON Chairman, Alhaji Dahiru Nayaya Ambursa, triggering fresh internal tensions ahead of 2027. KABIR WURMA examines the political intrigues and uncertainties arising from the decision.
The suspension of the chairman of Birnin Kebbi local government area and Kebbi State ALGON chairman, Alhaji Dahiru Nayaya Ambursa, has opened a new chapter in Kebbi State politics, raising fundamental questions about internal discipline, loyalty, and the management of power within the APC.
While the party maintains that the decision is a routine disciplinary measure, political observers argue that it reflects more profound anxieties within the ruling party as alignments shift. Rival interests quietly reposition ahead of the next electoral cycle.
In a letter dated December 29, 2025, the APC’s Central Zonal Office suspended Ambursa over alleged gross misconduct, citing misuse of office and actions said to have ridiculed and embarrassed the party, in violation of Article 21 (2)(ii) of the APC Constitution (2022, as amended).
Beyond the formal allegations, the timing of the suspension suggests a broader attempt by the party to reassert control over its internal structure as political activities ahead of 2027 begin to intensify.
As behind-the-scenes consultations and realignments gather momentum, party leaders have become increasingly sensitive to signals of wavering loyalty or parallel political engagements.
Central to the controversy are complaints from party stakeholders in Birnin Kebbi local government who accuse the suspended ALGON chairman of conduct capable of weakening party unity.
Particularly sensitive is Ambursa’s perceived closeness to the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
Party insiders said Malami’s frequent warm receptions in Ambursa, the hometown of the embattled ALGON chairman, have unsettled APC members who remain sceptical of his political intentions ahead of 2027.
For these party loyalists, such visible political fraternity sends mixed signals at a time when the APC leadership is keen on enforcing clarity of allegiance and internal cohesion.
Beyond elite suspicion, local party executives in Ambursa are said to have long complained of strained relations with the ALGON chairman, alleging poor consultation and exclusion from decision-making.
Analysts warn that such a trust deficit, if allowed to fester, could weaken grassroots mobilisation in a state where local party structures often determine electoral outcomes.
Party insiders argue that the APC could not afford to ignore growing discontent in Birnin Kebbi local government, one of its electoral strongholds.
Additional allegations, ranging from controversies surrounding structures erected at an Arabic Secondary School built by Ambursa to claims that he facilitated the arrest of youths during local disputes, are believed to have reinforced the perception that his continued leadership posed political risks to the party.
To party strategists, the suspension was therefore less about punishment and more about damage control, aimed at preventing internal dissatisfaction from escalating into open rebellion or defection.
However, the decision carries significant political risks. Ambursa is widely regarded as a grassroots politician with substantial influence, built primarily through sustained humanitarian gestures.
He is said to have supported farmers with inputs, assisted petty traders with funds, and actively participated in government programmes across his constituency.
Political observers caution that a prolonged suspension could alienate his loyalists, many of whom perceive the action as excessive.
In a political environment where defections can quickly reshape electoral calculations, the APC must now carefully balance discipline with inclusion.
There are also concerns that Ambursa’s political network, strengthened by his position as state ALGON chairman, could become inconvenient if he feels marginalised within the party.
The APC leadership, however, has dismissed fears of fallout. The party’s state chairman, Alhaji Muhammed Kana Zuru, through the Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Isah Assalafi, confirmed that the suspension remains in force and was duly communicated through a letter signed by the APC zonal vice chairman, Abubakar Bello Matawalle Bunza.
According to Assalafi, the action will not lead to factionalisation or defection, but rather serve as a deterrent to restore internal discipline.
“What we did to the Birnin Kebbi local government chairman is to bring sanity into the party. Disciplinary actions are meant to correct, not to destroy,” Assalafi said, adding that the party has a history of reviewing such decisions when affected members show remorse.
Reacting to his suspension, Ambursa described the development as an internal family affair that would eventually be resolved amicably.
He declined to engage extensively with the allegations, stating that public opinion would judge the matter.
“This is not new in our party. It has come, and it will go. It is a family problem and, by God’s grace, it will be solved amicably. Even if they suspend me, it is the same people who, Insha Allah, will return me,” he said.
Opposition parties in the state, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), have described the suspension as childish and symptomatic of internal instability within the ruling party.
Some politicians, speaking anonymously, warned that the APC’s challenges in Kebbi State were only beginning and that deeper fractures could emerge as the 2027 elections draw closer.
Civil society voices, however, are divided. While some argue that the suspension is timely and necessary to prevent further internal cracks, others caution that excessive discipline could backfire if not carefully managed.
A public affairs commentator and civil society activist, Comrade Usman Anache, noted that political parties must enforce their rules but also ensure that disciplinary measures are fair and proportionate.
The Kebbi State government has sought to distance itself from the controversy. The special adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Abdullahi Idris Zuru, emphasised that the matter remains strictly a party affair and has no bearing on governance.
He stressed that Governor Nasir Idris Kauran Gwandu does not interfere in party matters, despite being the party leader in the state.
As it is, the suspension of the Kebbi ALGON chairman has become an early test of the APC’s internal management ahead of 2027. Whether the party can enforce discipline without triggering internal rebellion may determine not only its cohesion but also its electoral strength in Kebbi State.
For now, the uncertainty surrounding Ambursa’s political future mirrors the broader challenge confronting the APC as it navigates an increasingly competitive and sensitive political season in the state.
