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Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has said that the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal on the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) played a decisive role in his decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Lawal, who recently left the PDP, said the lingering legal battles and internal divisions within the opposition party made it increasingly difficult to remain, despite his efforts to promote reconciliation among party members.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, the governor explained that the appellate court’s decision on the PDP national convention ultimately ended his long stay in the party.
According to the statement, Lawal had earlier consulted widely with political stakeholders in Zamfara State before arriving at the decision to join the ruling APC.
“Joining the All Progressives Congress was a decision made by stakeholders in Zamfara state amid the ongoing legal challenges faced by the Peoples Democratic Party,” the statement read.
It noted that the governor had demonstrated loyalty to the PDP and worked consistently to reconcile the different factions within the party to ensure unity and prepare it for future elections.
However, Idris said efforts to resolve the crisis through reconciliation and out-of-court settlements proved unsuccessful, leading to a prolonged legal battle that could have far-reaching implications for party leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.
The statement further described Lawal as “the last man standing” in the PDP among governors seeking a second term in office.
“He was the only governor seeking a second term who chose to stay, hoping that party leaders would demonstrate decorum and take appropriate action,” Idris said.
He added that during several meetings with stakeholders over the past few weeks, the governor had informed them of their request for him to defect to the APC but said he would take a final decision after the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment.
“The appellate judgment ended Governor Dauda Lawal’s stay in the Peoples Democratic Party, as he prioritised the interests of Zamfara state.
“He joined the All Progressives Congress to sustain the Zamfara Rescue and Rebuild mission,” he said.
Meanwhile, DAILY POST recalls that the Court of Appeal in Abuja had on Monday upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court restraining the PDP from holding its national convention.
The appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by the faction of the party led by Taminu Turaki, which claimed leadership of the opposition party after emerging from the Ibadan convention where members of its National Working Committee (NWC) were elected.
The court also awarded a cost of N2 million against Turaki and other members of the faction.
Following the ruling, the Turaki-led group directed its legal team to immediately file an appeal at the Supreme Court to challenge the judgment.
