Political tension continues to escalate in Zamfara State following a new wave of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This development intensifies uncertainty ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Governor Dauda Lawal is scheduled to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday. The meeting will address the unfolding political situation in Zamfara.
The defection wave intensified when Hon. Maharazu Salisu, representing Maradun II Constituency in the Zamfara State Assembly, formally joined the APC. His switch occurred at the party’s state secretariat in Gusau on Tuesday.
Salisu’s departure follows several ward-level leaders abandoning the PDP. These defections indicate growing fractures within Governor Lawal’s political base. The APC now solidifies its majority in the state assembly.
Political insiders suggest more PDP lawmakers might defect before the 2027 elections. This potential realignment could reshape Zamfara’s political landscape.
Northern APC Stakeholders Issue Warning
The Northern APC Stakeholders Forum has cautioned against welcoming Governor Lawal into the ruling party. In a statement by national coordinator Alhaji Mubarak Liman, the group warned such a move would destabilize the APC.
“Admitting Governor Lawal would severely damage our party in Zamfara and throughout the North-West region,” Liman declared. The forum views the ongoing defections as evidence of Lawal’s diminishing political influence.
Liman’s statement emphasized that grassroots leaders and legislators abandoning the PDP demonstrate the governor’s weakening position. This political turbulence occurs amidst preparations for Nigeria’s next general elections.