Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has firmly dismissed speculations suggesting he plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), reaffirming his loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—the platform that brought him to power in the 2023 general elections.
This reaction follows comments made by the Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara governor, Bello Matawalle, who publicly urged Lawal to declare for the APC, claiming that such a move would serve the best interest of the state. Matawalle accused the sitting governor of engaging in “hide-and-seek politics,” implying covert alignments with the ruling party while maintaining a PDP identity.
Responding on behalf of the governor, his media aide, Mustafa Kaura, described the defection rumours as baseless and politically motivated.
“There is no truth in these speculations. Governor Dauda Lawal is a committed member of the PDP and has no intention of switching parties. Those spreading these rumours are only attempting to cause confusion,” Kaura stated.
The development has added to the growing political tension in Zamfara, as the two influential leaders—both former allies turned rivals—continue to shape the state’s political narrative from opposing camps.