Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has declared his intention to seek re-election while remaining in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), directly countering months of speculation about a potential defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor convened an emergency meeting with key PDP stakeholders at the Government House in Gusau on Friday night. According to a reliable source, Governor Lawal used the session, attended by the state party chairman, his Chief of Staff, Secretary to the State Government, and party elders, to chart a path forward following the release of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) new political timetable.
He explicitly told the gathering that he will stay in the PDP and await the outcome of an ongoing appeal court case before making any final decisions on his political future. This statement effectively quashed recent rumours, notably those from an APC chieftain, Musa Mailaya Mada, who claimed the governor had initiated contacts with APC leaders in Abuja about switching parties.
However, the meeting revealed significant internal division. While the governor favoured staying, participants were split on the best course. One faction advocated defection, arguing that Governor Lawal is the sole governor in Nigeria’s North West geopolitical zone, as all six governors there are APC members. They contend that leveraging the current crisis within Zamfara’s PDP would give him a strategic advantage.
Another group proposed joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC), suggesting it is the most viable opposition platform amid perceived public dissatisfaction with the APC. Conversely, supporters of remaining in the PDP pointed to a recent court victory that affirmed the legitimacy of the current state party executives led by Turaki.
A party stalwart, Kabir Amadu Mai Palace, indicated that the meeting consensus was to undertake wider consultations at the ward and local government levels. A strategic committee is expected to be formed, with Governor Lawal poised to make a formal announcement on his political plans after the Sallah celebrations.
The development underscores the volatile political realignments ahead of the 2027 election cycle, particularly in a state where the governor’s affiliation could significantly alter the regional balance of power between the PDP and the dominant APC.
