Zamfara Governor Defects to APC, Citing Court Ruling on PDP Crisis
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a move he attributes directly to a recent appellate court decision that intensified the opposition party’s internal crisis.
Governor Lawal’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, confirmed the switch in a Tuesday statement, explaining that the Court of Appeal’s ruling upholding a ban on the PDP’s national convention was the decisive factor. The judgment, delivered in Abuja on Monday, affirmed a Federal High Court order restraining the PDP from conducting its convention, effectively freezing the party’s leadership structure.
According to the statement, Lawal had remained in the PDP despite prolonged legal battles and factional divisions, actively working to reconcile warring groups to ensure party unity ahead of future elections. He was noted as the sole PDP governor seeking a second term who stayed with the party during this period, earning the description “the last man standing.”
However, these reconciliation efforts, including proposed out-of-court settlements, proved unsuccessful. The ongoing litigation, the statement noted, created uncertainty with potential implications for the 2027 general election. Following consultations with political stakeholders across Zamfara State, Lawal concluded that his continued affiliation with the PDP was no longer tenable.
“Joining the All Progressives Congress was a decision made by stakeholders in Zamfara state amid the ongoing legal challenges faced by the Peoples Democratic Party,” the statement read. It asserted that the governor prioritized the interests of Zamfara State, choosing to “sustain the Zamfara Rescue and Rebuild mission” within the APC.
The immediate catalyst was the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of an appeal by a PDP faction led by former Senator Taminu Turaki. That faction had claimed legitimacy after a parallel national convention in Ibadan. The appellate court not only upheld the restraining order but also imposed a N2 million cost on Turaki and his group. The Turaki-led faction has since indicated it will appeal the judgment to the Supreme Court.
Governor Lawal’s defection underscores the deepening instability within the PDP, Nigeria’s main opposition party. His departure highlights how protracted legal disputes are eroding party cohesion and influencing political alignments well ahead of the next election cycle. The move strengthens the APC’s position in Zamfara but leaves the PDP with one fewer governor at a time of significant internal strife. The upcoming Supreme Court appeal will be closely watched as a potential final arbiter of the party’s leadership crisis.
