Leadership crisis rocks Zamfara IPAC as YPP opposes alleged imposition
By IBRAHIM KANOMA, Gusau
The election was called off after stakeholders failed to reach a consensus on the modalities for conducting the exercise, leading to tensions among participating political groups.
A leadership crisis has erupted within the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Zamfara State following the suspension of its scheduled election, amid disagreements among member parties over the process for selecting new leaders.
The election was called off after stakeholders failed to reach a consensus on the modalities for conducting the exercise, leading to tensions among participating political groups.
In a statement issued by the Zamfara State Chairman of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Ambassador Adamu Yusuf Tsafe, the party blamed the disruption on what it described as the “misguided actions” of certain individuals allegedly linked to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
According to the statement, a majority of political parties under the IPAC umbrella—said to constitute over two-thirds of the council—have rejected any attempt to impose the APM chairman as head of a proposed caretaker committee.
The YPP maintained that respecting the wishes of the majority is essential to restoring peace within the council, warning against moves that could deepen divisions.
The party also accused the national leadership of IPAC of interfering in the state’s affairs, alleging a pattern of undemocratic practices. It claimed that this is the second time the current national chairman has overseen a failed electoral process in Zamfara, previously resulting in the dissolution of the council and the appointment of a caretaker committee.
The statement further alleged that attempts were made to manipulate the process by bringing in external actors, including party officials from outside the state, to influence the outcome of the election.
YPP also claimed that the disruption of the exercise involved the use of thugs, suggesting that the chaos may have been orchestrated to justify the installation of a preferred candidate as caretaker chairman.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from IPAC’s national leadership or the APM regarding the allegations.
The situation remains tense, with stakeholders calling for dialogue and adherence to democratic principles to resolve the impasse.
