By Ayomide Otitoju
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the ongoing crisis and legal disputes within the opposition party as the main reason for his decision.
The governor’s defection was formally announced on Monday by the state’s Deputy Governor, Mani Mummuni, following a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Gusau.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the move was described as a strategic decision taken in the interest of the state amid the PDP’s lingering legal battles.
According to the statement, the decision to join the APC was endorsed by key stakeholders in Zamfara after weeks of consultations and deliberations.
It noted that Lawal had previously made efforts to reconcile factions within the PDP in order to maintain unity and ensure the party could effectively participate in future elections.
However, attempts at peace, reconciliation and out-of-court settlements reportedly failed, leading to prolonged legal disputes that could have implications for party leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.
The statement added that the governor had informed stakeholders that he would make a final decision on his political future after the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
On Monday, the appellate court dismissed an appeal filed by the PDP against the October 31 ruling of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, which restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16.
The statement said the judgment ultimately influenced Lawal’s decision to leave the PDP, adding that his move to the APC was aimed at sustaining the state government’s “Zamfara Rescue and Rebuild” agenda.
