Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal, has broken his silence on his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the “endless internal wrangling” and persistent legal battles within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the primary reasons for his exit.
The announcement was made on Monday by Deputy Governor Mani Mummuni following a high-level stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Gusau.
By Tuesday, the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, reinforced the move in a formal statement, framing the defection as a strategic necessity.
Idris described the switch as a vital step taken to prioritize the stability and development of Zamfara State over partisan interests.
“Yesterday (Monday), Governor Dauda Lawal officially decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a decision reached and endorsed by all relevant stakeholders in Zamfara State,” the statement said.
Idris noted that the governor had shown unwavering loyalty to the PDP throughout the crisis and had gone to great lengths to broker peace among its divided groups so the party could still present candidates in future polls.
“Governor Dauda Lawal has demonstrated a strong commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party. He has worked diligently to facilitate reconciliation among the party’s factions, ensuring it remains unified and can field candidates for upcoming elections,” he said.
Despite these strenuous efforts, attempts to settle the disputes through dialogue and out-of-court agreements collapsed, triggering a wave of lawsuits that now threaten the party’s ability to contest elections down the line, especially in 2027.
“Efforts to achieve peace, reconciliation, and out-of-court settlements have proven difficult, leading to a series of legal battles that may have future implications, particularly for leaders contesting elections in 2027,” the spokesperson said.
The release further noted that Governor Lawal had been the final PDP governor eyeing a second term who refused to abandon the party amid the chaos.
“Governor Lawal was the last man standing in the People’s Democratic Party who stood firm until the very end, which was marked by yesterday’s Appeal Court judgment.
“He was the only governor seeking a second term who chose to stay, hoping that the party leaders would demonstrate decorum and take appropriate action,” Idris added.
During weeks of intensive consultations with state political leaders, the governor had made it clear he would only announce his final position once the Appeal Court delivered its verdict.
“Governor Lawal had informed stakeholders that he acknowledged their request to transition to the APC but would decide after the Appeal Court judgment,” the statement added.
Persecondnews recalls that the Court of Appeal in Abuja had on Monday threw out the PDP’s challenge against the October 31 ruling by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, which had barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting the results of the party’s national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16.
That decisive appellate verdict effectively brought Governor Lawal’s time in the PDP to a close.
“The appellate judgment ended Governor Dauda Lawal’s stay in the PDP as he prioritised the interests of Zamfara State by joining the APC to sustain the Zamfara Rescue and Rebuild mission,” the spokesperson added.
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