GUSAU — Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a seismic shift in Nigeria’s political landscape.
The announcement was made Monday during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in Gusau. Lawal’s move follows months of speculation and comes on the heels of Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s recent defection to the ruling party.
With Lawal’s exit, the APC now controls a staggering 31 out of Nigeria’s 36 states, leaving the PDP with only two governors—Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and Seyi Makinde of Oyo.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor, Deputy Governor Mani Mummuni cited “protracted internal crises and leadership failures” within the PDP as the primary reason for the move. He noted that the decision was necessary to align Zamfara with the federal government to better tackle the state’s pressing security challenges and fast-track developmental projects.
“This is about the interest of our people,” a government spokesperson said. “The Governor believes that for Zamfara to move forward, we must work in sync with the center. The PDP has remained a house divided against itself, and we can no longer tether the fate of our state to a sinking ship.”
The defection is a massive blow to the opposition, which has seen its influence dwindle significantly since the last general election. Meanwhile, the APC leadership has welcomed the move, viewing it as a consolidation of power ahead of the 2027 polls.
In Gusau, supporters of the Governor were seen celebrating the news, while PDP loyalists expressed disappointment, describing the move as a betrayal of the mandate given to the party in 2023.
