Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The development was confirmed on Monday in a statement released by the governor’s media aide, Nuhu Anka, who said the decision followed consultations with political stakeholders, elders and supporters across the state.
According to the statement, the governor arrived at the decision after reviewing the current political situation within the PDP and considering what he described as the broader interests of Zamfara State.
Anka explained that prolonged internal disputes and leadership disagreements within the party at both national and state levels played a major role in the governor’s move. He said the situation had created uncertainty that could distract from governance and slow efforts aimed at delivering development to the people.
He added that Lawal believes aligning with another political platform would provide greater stability and enhance cooperation with the Federal Government, particularly in addressing the security and developmental challenges facing the state.
The statement further revealed that the final decision was reached after a meeting involving senior government officials and key political stakeholders at the Government House in Gusau. The meeting was coordinated by the Deputy Governor alongside other top figures in the state administration.
While announcing the move, the governor expressed gratitude to members of the PDP for their support over the years, noting that the prevailing political realities made the decision necessary.
According to Anka, Lawal remains committed to improving security, strengthening unity and accelerating development across Zamfara State under his new political platform.
With the defection, the number of governors on the platform of the APC has now risen to 31 nationwide.
The development comes shortly after the Court of Appeal upheld an earlier ruling restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the PDP national convention held in Ibadan.
