Just hours after the Court of Appeal in Abuja put another hammer on the Kabiru Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), one of the remaining three governors in his camp, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has announced his defection from the Party
Although Governor Lawal is not in the country, his deputy, Mani Mummuni who made the announcement said the decision has been endorsed by his boss
The atmosphere in Gusau was electric as supporters and party loyalists gathered at the Government House, chanting APC slogans and hoisting the ruling party’s flag.
The announcement followed an emergency closed-door meeting, led by the Deputy Governor, Mani Mummuni, who was later seen in viral footage with top APC chieftains, among key State political stakeholders.
In a formal statement, the Governor’s Director-General on Media, Nuhu Anka, confirmed the political switch. He cited prolonged internal crises, leadership disagreements, and unresolved structural challenges within the PDP as the primary reasons for the Governor’s exit.
The timing of the defection is significant. Earlier on Monday, the Court of Appeal upheld a judgement barring INEC from recognizing the PDP’s national convention held in Ibadan, effectively nullifying the party’s current leadership.
Governor Lawal, who is currently in Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj, may have made the final decision to align with the APC’s “Renewed Hope” agenda following this judicial blow.
While the Governor has defected along with his cabinet, members and several Local Government chairmen, the fate of PDP lawmakers in the State House of Assembly, remains a subject of ongoing high-level meetings in the State.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
