The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, is reportedly concluding plans to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following extensive political consultations in the state.
Authoritative sources within the APC disclosed on Thursday that the governor had recently met with members of his cabinet, political allies and key stakeholders in Gusau to deliberate on the state’s political direction and the implications of remaining in the opposition party amid its lingering internal challenges.
According to the sources, the possibility of defecting to the ruling party featured prominently during the consultations, with the move expected to materialise before the end of the Muslim fasting period.
The development comes amid mounting pressure from political groups and influential figures in Zamfara who have urged Lawal to align with the party controlling the federal government. Advocates of the move argue that joining the APC could strengthen cooperation with the centre and improve access to resources required to address the state’s security and development challenges.
For years, Zamfara has grappled with persistent banditry, kidnapping and rural violence, which have placed significant strain on the state’s finances and security infrastructure. Some stakeholders believe political alignment with the federal government could enhance collaboration in tackling these issues.
The calls intensified after several political actors in the state, including lawmakers and party leaders, recently defected from the PDP to the APC.
Fueling speculation about a possible switch, Lawal recently hinted at the political disadvantages of remaining outside the ruling party, suggesting that his decision not to join the APC had limited Zamfara’s access to certain federal benefits.
“I know states that have received over N500 billion from the federal government as palliative, but I have never received anything. I think the reason I don’t get it is because I’m not in the APC,” he said.
The governor also stated that Zamfara had not received federal intervention funds beyond statutory allocations since he assumed office in 2023, alleging that states governed by the APC had obtained substantial financial support to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal and rising living costs.
Lawal, a former banker, won the 2023 governorship election on the PDP platform after defeating the incumbent APC administration in Zamfara — a result widely viewed as a major upset in the North-West political landscape.
However, with the PDP facing persistent internal divisions at the national level and the APC consolidating its influence across several states, political observers believe more opposition governors may consider switching allegiance ahead of future elections.
If the planned defection materialises, it would mark a major political shift in Zamfara and further strengthen the APC’s dominance in the North-West, while dealing another setback to the PDP as it grapples with internal disputes and defections.
Meanwhile, former Bayelsa State governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, has formally defected from the PDP to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), citing the deepening crisis within the opposition party.
Announcing his decision while addressing journalists and supporters, Dickson said the move followed extensive consultations with political associates nationwide.
Reflecting on his long association with the PDP, he said he had remained committed to the party for nearly two decades after joining it in 2005.
According to him, the PDP once served as a broad political platform that united Nigerians across social and political divides and played a major role in promoting minority interests and expanding democratic participation.
However, he said the party had in recent years been weakened by internal conflicts and poor leadership decisions.
Dickson warned that the instability within the PDP could undermine its ability to compete effectively in future elections, particularly the 2027 general polls, and cautioned against the risk of Nigeria drifting toward a one-party system.
He noted that he had previously resisted several attempts to persuade him to join the APC during his tenure as governor because of his belief in the need for a strong and credible opposition in Nigeria’s democratic system.
