The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says it has uncovered a forged party membership card being circulated online.

The party described the card as a deliberate attempt to damage its reputation and disrupt its ongoing e-registration exercise.

APC State Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris, revealed that the fake card carried an edited photo of notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, making it appear as though he was a registered APC member.

“This was carried out by elements unhappy with the smooth and successful e-registration process in the state,” Idris said.

He added that the forgery was easily detectable because the card displayed the date “26th January” alongside Turji’s widely recognized image.

Idris explained that no one can be registered without a valid National Identification Number (NIN), which Turji does not possess.

He further noted that the card’s registration code “26” corresponds to Niger State, not Zamfara, whose code is “36.”

According to Idris, these errors expose the fraud and highlight the ignorance of those behind the forgery.

Suspected Source

Preliminary investigations have linked the fake card to Babangida Aliyu Shinkafi, who was recently suspended from participating in the e-registration exercise.

The card reportedly first appeared on his Facebook page, raising suspicion about his involvement.

The APC in Zamfara has urged citizens to disregard the fake card while the party continues its investigation. Authorities have been notified, and the party expressed confidence that those responsible will be arrested and prosecuted.

“This clearly shows the ignorance of the forgers and undermines their attempt to disrupt APC’s credible e-registration programme,” Idris concluded.

The Zamfara APC reiterated its commitment to maintaining a transparent and credible registration process. Officials emphasized that the e-registration system is designed to prevent fraudulent entries and ensure that only verified members are recognized.

The party also assured supporters that the incident would not derail its efforts to strengthen internal structures and expand membership across the state.