ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Minister of State for Defence and former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has welcomed Governor Dauda Lawal to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the development as a historic moment in the political history of the state and the nation.
Governor Lawal officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC on Monday, represented by his deputy, Malam Mani Mummuni, and members of the state executive council, with APC flags publicly displayed at the Government House in Gusau.
In a statement shared on his X account, Matawalle said the governor’s move to the APC would strengthen collective efforts to address challenges facing the state, particularly insecurity.
He emphasized that Zamfara now needs the collective commitment of all stakeholders to confront its challenges while working together to deliver the realisation of the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Today marks a historic moment in the political history of our state and our dear nation as we welcome a friend and brother, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, His Excellency Dauda Lawal, into our great party, the APC,” Matawalle said.
The former governor described politics as the art of building bridges across rivers of difference, noting that for him, this represents “a political reunion with my friend and brother”
. He called for unity and determination to ensure victory for the party in the 2027 general elections.
Matawalle assured that as a progressive, he would support Governor Lawal in pursuing their collective vision for a more secure and prosperous Zamfara State.
Governor Lawal’s defection followed extensive consultations with stakeholders across the state, with the governor citing the prolonged internal crisis, leadership disagreements, and unresolved structural challenges within the PDP at both national and state levels as reasons for his decision.
The timing was also influenced by the recent Court of Appeal judgment that invalidated the PDP National Convention held in Ibadan in November 2025.
With this defection, the APC now controls 32 states, further consolidating its dominance across Nigeria’s political landscape, leaving only five states in opposition hands.
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