2027: PDP, NDC Move To Challenge APC As Zamfara Political Battle Intensifies
In 2023, against all expectations, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) pulled off a major political upset in Zamfara State by defeating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship election and winning a senatorial seat, three House of Representatives seats, and the majority in the State House of Assembly.
At the time, many political observers believed the PDP stood little chance against the APC, which controlled the state government under then-Governor Bello Matawalle and boasted influential political figures such as Abdulaziz Yari, Kabiru Marafa, Ahmad Sani and other political heavyweights backed by federal influence. However, the PDP, powered largely by the popularity of Dauda Lawal, defied the odds and secured victory.
Three years later, the political landscape in Zamfara has changed dramatically.
Governor Lawal has now defected to the APC alongside all PDP members of the House of Representatives, members of the State House of Assembly, and almost the entire state executive council. The only notable exception was the former Commissioner for Education, Wadatau Madawaki, who later joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Despite the massive defections, the PDP insists it remains strong and ready to challenge the APC again in 2027. The party is also facing competition from emerging opposition forces such as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and ADC, both of which have attracted influential politicians from the APC and PDP.
The PDP in Zamfara continues to enjoy the backing of former National Security Adviser and ex-Minister of Defence, Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, popularly known as Ali Gusau. The retired military general played a significant role in financing and supporting the PDP’s victory in 2023.
Although some party loyalists believe Gusau may now be less enthusiastic after two governors he supported eventually defected to the APC, the PDP appears determined to rebuild.
Political analysts say the party’s confidence is evident in the large number of aspirants who recently purchased nomination forms, indicating that many politicians still believe in the PDP’s chances.
Observers also point to Ibrahim Shehu Bakauye, a former member of the House of Representatives and long-time PDP figure, as a major factor that could strengthen the party ahead of the election. Like Governor Lawal, Bakauye hails from the politically influential Gusau area in the central senatorial zone.
Meanwhile, the NDC, led by former Senator Kabiru Marafa, is also positioning itself as a major contender in the state.
Marafa, who dumped the APC for the ADC before eventually settling in the NDC, has already secured the governorship ticket of his new party unopposed after conducting ward and local government congresses across the state.
Known for his grassroots popularity and political influence, Marafa is believed to be banking on the goodwill he built during his years in the Senate, where he reportedly facilitated jobs and empowerment opportunities for many young people across Zamfara.
Political observers say the battle for Zamfara may largely revolve around candidates from the central senatorial zone, particularly Gusau, which remains the state’s biggest voting bloc.
Since 1999, the western senatorial zone has produced three governors while the northern zone has produced one. Analysts believe political parties are now focusing on the central zone because of its electoral strength and the influence of Governor Lawal in the area.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, Zamfara is already shaping up to become one of the most closely watched political battlegrounds in northern Nigeria.
