The Zamfara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly criticized the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, for backing President Bola Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers State.
The party also condemned Matawalle’s support for the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the House of Assembly, describing the move as unconstitutional and illegal.
In a statement issued in Gusau on Wednesday, PDP Chairman Jibo Jamilu accused Matawalle of hypocrisy, citing his own record of violating democratic principles during his tenure as Zamfara governor.
The party recalled how Matawalle dismissed elected local government chairmen, demolished public buildings such as Gusau Hotel and Farida Hospital, and governed unilaterally without convening Executive Council meetings.
PDP further slammed Matawalle for his past actions, including the removal of his deputy for refusing to defect with him to the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to the statement, Matawalle’s own history of constitutional violations makes him unfit to criticize others.
The party maintained that the removal of elected officials under the guise of emergency rule is both unconstitutional and unacceptable, insisting that Matawalle should be the last person to pass judgment on political matters.