Dauda Lawal, the governor of Zamfara State, has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The development was confirmed on Monday in a statement issued by the governor’s media aide, Nuhu Anka, who said the decision came after extensive consultations with political stakeholders across the state.
According to the statement, the move followed discussions with party leaders, elders and supporters, who reviewed the political situation and agreed that a change of platform was necessary for the state’s stability and development.
The governor explained that persistent internal disputes within the PDP at both the national and state levels influenced the decision. These disagreements, he said, had created uncertainty that could distract from governance and slow down efforts to deliver meaningful development to the people of Zamfara.
He also stressed that aligning with the APC would strengthen cooperation with the Federal Government, particularly in tackling security challenges in the North-West and accelerating development initiatives in the state.
The statement noted that the final meeting that produced the decision took place at the Government House in Gusau and involved the deputy governor, senior government officials and key political figures.
While appreciating members of the PDP in Zamfara for their support over the years, the governor said the current political climate within the party made it necessary to take what he described as a “bold step” in the interest of good governance and the future of the state.
The defection comes shortly after the Court of Appeal upheld a High Court ruling stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the PDP’s national convention held in Ibadan, a development that further deepened the party’s internal crisis.
With Lawal’s move, the number of governors on the APC platform has reportedly risen to 31.
The political shift follows a similar move by Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa State, who recently announced his defection to the APC alongside members of his cabinet and several political allies in the state assembly.
Lawal, who is expected to seek re-election in the 2027 general elections, has not publicly stated any additional reasons for his decision beyond the issues raised in the statement.
