President Bola Tinubu has pledged reinforced federal and state security cooperation to combat persistent banditry in Nigeria’s North West, following the formal defection of Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The commitment was delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented the president at a large reception in Gusau on Tuesday. Governor Lawal, who won office in 2023 on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), cited an unresolved internal crisis within his former party as the reason for his switch.
The event, held at the Gusau International Trade Fair complex, was attended by a delegation of senior APC figures including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, House Speaker Tajuddeen Abbas, and APC Governors Forum Chairman Hope Uzodinma. During the ceremony, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda presented the party’s flag to Governor Lawal, promising full support.
Vice President Shettima conveyed President Tinubu’s deep concern over the region’s decade-long security crisis, offering condolences to victims of banditry and kidnapping. He stated that the move would strengthen coordination between state and federal authorities to enhance military and policing operations in Zamfara and surrounding states.
“The federal government is committed to restoring law and order in all parts of the region,” Shettima said, noting that Governor Lawal’s inclusion in the APC would improve operational synergy for security agencies. He also lauded former Zamfara governors—Ahmed Yerima, Mahmuda Shinkafi, Abdulaziz Yari, and Defence Minister Bello Matawalle—for pledging to support Lawal’s efforts.
The defection underscores the APC’s ongoing consolidation of political strength ahead of the 2027 general election. Shettima assured that the demonstrated unity among the party’s top leaders in Zamfara guarantees APC victory in the next electoral cycle.
This high-profile party switch highlights ongoing political realignments in Nigeria, occurring against the backdrop of a severe security challenge that has devastated communities in the North West. The federal government’s security strategy for Zamfara now hinges on closer collaboration with a governor who recently changed political allegiance, a move analysts suggest could either streamline resource allocation or intensify local political tensions. The effectiveness of the renewed security pledge will be closely measured against the region’s continued instability.
