Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, is facing growing political pressure as a fresh wave of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) threatens his control of the state’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sources at the Government House in Gusau told Daily Post that the governor is planning a series of high-level consultations in Abuja to address the internal crisis within the PDP and rebuild his political standing.
Political observers say the consultations are part of broader efforts by the governor to regain influence and secure political protection, as the APC continues to gain momentum in Zamfara.
The recent defections have unsettled the ruling party in the state, with key figures including lawmakers, ward leaders, and former aides abandoning the PDP. They accuse Governor Lawal of poor performance, neglecting party loyalists, and failing to fulfill campaign promises.
On Tuesday, Hon. Maharazu Salisu, representing Maradun II Constituency in the Zamfara State House of Assembly, officially defected to the APC at the party’s secretariat in Gusau. His move, along with those of five PDP ward leaders, marks another significant blow to Lawal’s administration.
The governor’s troubles deepened last week after a PDP candidate he reportedly supported with over ₦4 billion during a by-election also decamped to the APC, citing frustration with the government’s performance and widespread public dissatisfaction.
Currently, the APC controls 13 of the 24 seats in the state assembly, with reports suggesting that seven more PDP lawmakers are considering defection, a move that could reduce Lawal’s loyalists to just four and potentially expose him to impeachment threats.
A reliable source revealed that Governor Lawal held a late-night meeting with some lawmakers on Monday to discuss the political situation. During the meeting, the governor was said to have expressed serious concern about the defections and hinted that he might “explore international options” if forced out, alluding to properties he allegedly owns in London, Dubai, the United States, and Germany.
Meanwhile, the Northern APC Stakeholders Forum has cautioned the party’s national leadership against welcoming Lawal into its fold.
In a statement signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Alhaji Mubarak Liman, the forum accused the governor of failing in key areas of governance, including security, infrastructure, and social welfare, saying his record could tarnish the APC’s image in Zamfara and the North-West.
“Governor Dauda Lawal has failed in critical areas of governance. Welcoming him into the APC would be counterproductive for the party in Zamfara and across the region,” the statement read.
The forum added that the steady wave of defections from the PDP is a clear reflection of the governor’s declining popularity and dwindling grassroots support, raising doubts about his political survival ahead of 2027.
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