New naira policy cost me re-election bid – Matawalle…

The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, on Thursday, in Zamfara, said his opposition to the Central Bank’s new naira policy cost him his reelection bid at the March 18 Governorship election.

He also said Zamfara saw more military personnel deployed during the election than when the State Government requested military assistance to route out insurgents.

According to him, the security situation would have been better than it is today had the military been deployed earlier.

“What’s being said is that we went to the court over new naira notes redesign. They said myself, Ganduje, and El Rufai would be punished accordingly,” Matawalle said in an interview.

It was reported that Matawalle who ran in the All Progressives Congress ticket, who polled 311,976 votes, lost to Dauda Lawal-Dare of the Peoples Democratic Party who garnered 377,726 votes.

Matawalle emerged governor in 2019 on the PDP ticket after a court of appeal judgment nullified the APC primary elections which made Muktar Idris the candidate and winner of the election.

However, Matawalle said despite his loss, the presidential victory of the APC’s Bola Tinubu is enough consolation for him.