Gov Dauda Lawal refutes defection rumours, affirms loyalty to PDP

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has firmly denied speculations that he plans to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), emphasizing his commitment to the party under which he was elected in 2023.

This clarification comes in response to recent comments by the Minister of State for Defence and former governor of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, who publicly called on Lawal to join the APC, claiming it would benefit the state’s development.

Speaking to Punch on Sunday, Governor Lawal’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Mustafa Kaura, dismissed the defection claims as baseless and misleading.

“Rumours that Governor Dauda Lawal is planning to defect to the APC are completely false. He remains a dedicated member of the PDP,” Kaura said.

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“We urge PDP supporters to ignore these speculations. The governor is not considering joining any other political party.”

Kaura added that Governor Lawal is focused on delivering good governance, not political maneuvering, and that he believes in destiny and divine will above partisan politics.

“Governor Lawal is a man of faith who believes in God’s will.

“Whatever is destined will happen, regardless of political affiliation,” he stated.

Matawalle had earlier extended an open invitation to Lawal during a Sallah gathering at his Maradun residence, where he hosted thousands of supporters.

In a statement by his former Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, Matawalle accused Lawal of playing a “hide-and-seek” game with the APC and urged him to openly join the party.

“Dauda Lawal should stop the hide-and-seek game and officially join the APC,” Matawalle said, adding that he harbors no personal animosity and would welcome Lawal into the party.

The minister also challenged Governor Lawal to convert federal allocations into tangible development for the people of Zamfara.

He lauded President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing the president as a visionary leader focused on peace, security, and national progress.

Matawalle emphasized the federal government’s commitment to tackling insecurity in Zamfara and the wider Northwest region, revealing that the Ministry of Defence and military leadership are actively executing President Tinubu’s directive to eliminate terrorist and bandit threats in the area.