Chidinma Iroegbu
The ruling of the Court of Appeal upholding the invalidation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention has prompted Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing unresolved legal disputes and internal divisions within the opposition party.
The governor’s defection was formally announced on Monday by the Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Mallam Mani Mummuni, after a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Gusau.
A statement issued by the governor’s spokesman, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said the decision followed consultations with political stakeholders in the state who concluded that remaining in the PDP could affect the state’s political stability.
According to the statement, the governor’s decision to join the APC was taken in the interest of the state and with the backing of key political leaders in Zamfara.
“Yesterday, Governor Dauda Lawal officially decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, a decision endorsed by all relevant stakeholders in Zamfara State,” the statement said.
It added that Lawal had previously made efforts to reconcile various factions within the PDP in order to ensure unity and enable the party to present candidates in future elections.
However, attempts at peace talks and out-of-court settlements reportedly failed, resulting in several legal disputes that could affect political aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The statement noted that Lawal remained the last PDP governor seeking a second term who stayed in the party until the latest decision of the Court of Appeal.
On Monday, the appellate court dismissed the PDP’s appeal against the October 31 judgment of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, which restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the party’s November 15–16 national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Following the ruling, the governor accepted the request of Zamfara stakeholders to join the APC, saying the move would strengthen efforts to continue the state government’s “Rescue and Rebuild Mission.”