A faction within Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has claimed that the protest staged against Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, was politically driven and backed by officials in the Zamfara State Government.

The group, which identifies as the APC Integrity Network, told journalists in Abuja on Friday that the demonstration was part of a broader plan to weaken President Bola Tinubu’s administration and sow division within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The protest, organised by a group calling itself the APC Young Leaders Alliance, took place near the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja. But the Integrity Network’s president, Bamidele Ibrahim Ayoola, claimed that the gathering was “cash-induced” and lacked legitimacy.

According to Ayoola, “many participants were unaware of who they were protesting against,” adding that some mistakenly referred to the minister as “Bello Masari,” which he said pointed to the orchestrated nature of the event. The group also alleged that two buses bearing government number plates were seen at the protest site, but this claim could not be independently verified.

Ayoola said the protest was intended to discredit not only Matawalle but also other influential ministers from northern Nigeria. He called on the EFCC to investigate the source of funding for the protest.

“This isn’t just an attack on one minister — it’s a coordinated effort to portray Tinubu’s administration as divided and ineffective,” he said. “If there are genuine concerns about the conduct of any government official, due process should be followed, not stage-managed demonstrations.”

Matawalle, who served as governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023, currently oversees operations focused on security in the North-West region. Since his appointment, he has been involved in federal efforts to counter insecurity and banditry in that part of the country.

The Integrity Network warned that further attempts to undermine the minister could disrupt national security efforts. It urged the APC’s National Working Committee and federal authorities to examine what it described as a trend of politically motivated campaigns targeting key officials.

“If these kinds of campaigns persist, we will be compelled to name individuals involved and formally petition federal agencies for breach of public trust,” Ayoola said.

The group reaffirmed its support for the Tinubu administration and pledged to resist what it called “internal sabotage” within the party.