Gusau – Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing ongoing party crises and legal disputes as the main reasons for his move.
The defection was formally announced on Monday by the state Deputy Governor, Mani Mummuni, following a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Gusau. A statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, said the decision was made in the interest of Zamfara State and after consultations with political stakeholders across the state.
Governor Lawal, who had remained committed to the PDP and attempted to reconcile the party’s warring factions, decided to leave after efforts at mediation and out-of-court settlements failed. According to the statement, these disputes, including a series of legal battles, threatened the party’s prospects in the 2027 elections.
“Governor Lawal was the last PDP governor seeking a second term who stayed in the party despite internal turmoil,” the statement said. “He had informed stakeholders that he would make a final decision following the Court of Appeal ruling.”
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday dismissed an appeal filed by the PDP against an October 31 judgment of the Federal High Court, which had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the results of the party’s national convention held in Ibadan in November.
Following the appellate court’s ruling, Governor Lawal concluded that remaining in the PDP was no longer viable. The spokesperson added that the governor joined the APC to ensure continuity of the “Zamfara Rescue and Rebuild” mission and prioritise the state’s interests.
