GOVERNOR Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has cited the prolonged internal crisis and legal disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the major reason behind his decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The formal announcement of the governor’s defection was made on Monday by the Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Mani Mummuni, following a crucial stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Gusau.
According to officials, the decision was reached after extensive consultations among political leaders, party stakeholders and government officials across the state.
In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the move from the PDP to the APC was described as a necessary step taken in the interest of Zamfara State.
The statement explained that the decision was not taken unilaterally by the governor but was endorsed by key stakeholders after assessing the ongoing political situation within the PDP.
“Yesterday, 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.
It further noted that the move became inevitable due to the lingering crisis and legal battles confronting the opposition party at the national level.
The governor’s aide stressed that Lawal had remained committed to the PDP despite the challenges facing the party.
According to him, the governor had made several efforts to reconcile the warring factions within the party and ensure that it remained united ahead of future elections.
“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,” the statement added.
However, those efforts were unsuccessful as disputes among party leaders continued to escalate, eventually leading to multiple legal battles that now threaten the party’s political future.
The statement revealed that the governor decided to wait for the outcome of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria ruling on the PDP leadership crisis before making a final decision on his political future.
According to the statement, Lawal had informed stakeholders during several meetings that he would take a final decision after the appellate court delivered its judgment.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday dismissed an appeal filed by the PDP challenging an earlier ruling by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court.
The lower court had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the PDP national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16.
The appellate court’s decision effectively upheld the earlier judgment and dealt another blow to the party’s internal leadership struggle.
According to the governor’s spokesperson, Lawal had remained one of the few PDP governors who stayed loyal to the party despite the ongoing turmoil.
“Governor Lawal was the last man standing in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who stood firm until the very end, which was marked by yesterday’s Appeal Court judgment,” the statement said.
It added that he was the only governor seeking re-election in 2027 who had chosen to remain in the PDP while hoping that party leaders would resolve their differences.
With the decision to join the APC, the governor said he intends to continue pursuing his administration’s development agenda under what he described as the “Zamfara Rescue and Rebuild Mission.”
The statement emphasised that the defection was primarily driven by the need to protect the political future of the state and ensure stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.