Zamfara Assembly Speaker, 12 Defect, APC Gains Control

In a major political realignment, Zamfara State Speaker Bilyaminu Moriki and twelve members of the state House of Assembly have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The announcement was made during a plenary session in Gusau on Monday, where Moriki formally presented letters of resignation on behalf of the lawmakers.

The move follows the earlier defection of Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal from the PDP to the APC, signaling a complete shift in the state’s political landscape. The APC has scheduled a formal reception for Governor Lawal and the newly defected legislators on Tuesday, March 24.

Among those who switched parties are senior legislative officers: Deputy Speaker Adamu Aliyu (Gummi II Constituency), Majority Leader Bello Mazawaje (Tsafe East Constituency), and Chief Whip Rilwanu Nagambo (Anka Constituency). Speaker Moriki stated the decision was motivated by a desire to align with the governor and accelerate the state’s development. “Our decision is aimed at encouraging smooth collaboration between the state and the federal governments,” he told the assembly.

This latest defection grants the APC full control of the 24-member Zamfara State House of Assembly. Previously, the PDP held a majority, but the exit of the Speaker and over half of its caucus fundamentally alters the legislative balance of power.

The development underscores the fluidity of Nigeria’s party politics, where high-profile defections ahead of election cycles or during a governor’s term are not uncommon. It also consolidates the APC’s position in a northwestern state that has historically experienced volatile political shifts.

The formal reception ceremony on March 24 will solidify the new alignment, ending the PDP’s legislative presence in Zamfara. Observers note that such mass defections often impact policy direction and state-federal relations, as the executive and legislative branches now operate under a unified party banner. The focus now turns to how this unified APC government will implement its agenda in the state.