Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal Defects to APC Amid PDP Crisis

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the prolonged legal disputes and internal crisis within the PDP as the main reason 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.

According to a statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, the decision was taken in the interest of Zamfara State after consultations with political stakeholders amid lingering legal challenges facing the PDP.

“Governor Dauda Lawal has demonstrated a strong commitment to the PDP. He worked diligently to facilitate reconciliation among the party’s factions, ensuring it remains unified. However, efforts to achieve peace and out-of-court settlements have proven difficult,” the spokesperson said.

Lawal was the last PDP governor seeking a second term who stayed in the party despite internal turmoil. The appellate court ruling on the party’s disputed Ibadan convention influenced his decision.

“The appellate judgment ended Governor Lawal’s stay in the PDP, as he prioritized the interests of Zamfara State by joining the APC to sustain the Zamfara Rescue and Rebuild mission,” Idris added.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja recently dismissed an appeal filed by the PDP against a Federal High Court judgment restraining INEC from recognizing the outcome of the November 2025 Ibadan convention. This effectively prevented the emergence of Taminu Turaki as PDP national chairman.

Governor Lawal’s defection underscores the continuing ripple effects of the PDP’s internal disputes on its elected officials, particularly as the 2027 general elections approach.