Pressure mounts on Governor Lawal as APC gains ground in Zamfara

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal is coming under growing political pressure following a fresh wave of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, which has further weakened his base ahead of the 2027 general election.

Reliable sources in Government House, Gusau, told DAILY POST that the governor is expected to embark on a series of high-level consultations in Abuja as part of efforts to contain the crisis within his party and reassert control.

Observers believe Lawal’s Abuja consultations are part of wider efforts to manage the crisis and negotiate political protection as the APC consolidates its growing dominance in Zamfara State.

The defections, which have unsettled the ruling PDP in the state, involve key political figures, including lawmakers, ward leaders, and former aides, who accuse the governor of poor performance, neglect of party loyalists, and failure to deliver on campaign promises.

On Tuesday, Hon. Maharazu Salisu, representing Maradun II Constituency in the Zamfara State House of Assembly, officially joined the APC at the party’s state secretariat in Gusau.

His defection, along with those of five PDP ward leaders, marks another major setback for the governor, whose influence within the party continues to wane.

Lawal’s political challenges worsened last week after a PDP candidate he reportedly supported with over ₦4 billion during a by-election also defected to the APC, citing disillusionment with the administration’s performance and growing public dissatisfaction.

The APC currently controls 13 of the 24 seats in the Zamfara State House of Assembly, while reports indicate that seven more PDP lawmakers may soon cross over — a development that could leave Lawal with only four loyal members and expose him to impeachment risks.

Sources disclosed that the governor held a late-night meeting with some lawmakers on Monday, where he expressed concern over the defections and their possible implications for his political future.

According to one source, the governor admitted he might “explore international options” if forced out, referencing properties he reportedly owns in London, Dubai, the United States, and Germany.

Meanwhile, the Northern APC Stakeholders Forum has cautioned the party’s leadership against admitting Lawal into the APC, warning that his performance record could harm the party’s image in the region.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Mubarak Liman, the forum accused Lawal of presiding over one of Zamfara’s most difficult periods marked by insecurity and infrastructural decline.

“Governor Dauda Lawal has failed in critical areas of governance — security, infrastructure, and welfare. Welcoming him into the APC would be counterproductive for the party in Zamfara and the North-West,” the statement read.

The group added that the steady stream of defections from the PDP reflects the governor’s declining popularity and waning grassroots support.