Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has revealed the reason he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the protracted crisis and legal battles rocking the opposition party.
The defection was announced on Monday by the state Deputy Governor, Mani Mummuni, after a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Gusau.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, said the decision followed wide consultations with political stakeholders across the state.
According to him, the governor took the step in the interest of Zamfara amid lingering legal disputes affecting the PDP.
“Yesterday (Monday), Governor Dauda Lawal officially decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, a decision reached and endorsed by all relevant stakeholders in Zamfara State,” the statement said.
Idris noted that Lawal had earlier remained loyal to the PDP and made efforts to reconcile the party’s warring factions before deciding to leave.
He said attempts to resolve the internal crisis through reconciliation and out-of-court settlements failed, resulting in legal disputes that could affect the party’s chances in future elections, especially in 2027.
The spokesperson added that Lawal was the last PDP governor seeking re-election who remained in the party despite the internal crisis.
According to him, the governor had earlier informed stakeholders during several meetings that he would take a final decision after the outcome of a court case involving the party.
The statement said the Court of Appeal of Nigeria sitting in Abuja on Monday dismissed an appeal filed by the PDP against an earlier judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
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The lower court had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the outcome of the party’s national convention held in Ibadan in November.
