Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara state, says the appeal court judgment on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention sealed his decision to quit the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
BACKGROUND
On Monday, the appellate court affirmed the judgment of a
federal high court which restrained the PDP from conducting the national
convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.
In its ruling, a three-member panel of the court dismissed
an appeal filed by the PDP challenging the jurisdiction of the federal high
court to entertain the suit.
Uchechukwu Onyemenam, who delivered the lead judgment, held
that the PDP violated constitutional provisions guiding the conduct of a
convention.
Onyemenam agreed that no valid notice of the convention was
served on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as required by
law.
However, the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the PDP rejected
the judgment and directed its lawyers to file an appeal at the supreme court.
Hours after the verdict, Lawal and Mani Mummuni, his deputy,
left the PDP for the APC.
‘OUT-OF-COURT SETTLEMENTS PROVED DIFFICULT’
In a statement on Tuesday signed by Sulaiman Idris, his
spokesperson, the governor cited the ongoing litigation and crisis within the
PDP as primary reasons for his defection.
He said the appellate court judgment ended his long stay in
the PDP after several efforts to achieve peace and out-of-court settlements
proved futile.
“Joining the All Progressives Congress was a decision made
by stakeholders in Zamfara state amid the ongoing legal challenges faced by the
Peoples Democratic Party,” the statement reads.
“Governor Dauda Lawal has demonstrated a strong commitment
to the Peoples Democratic Party. He worked diligently to facilitate
reconciliation among the party’s factions to ensure unity and enable it to
field candidates for upcoming elections.
“Efforts to achieve peace, reconciliation, and out-of-court
settlements have proven difficult, leading to a series of legal battles that
may have future implications, particularly for leaders contesting elections in
2027.”
Idris said Lawal was “the last man standing in the PDP”.
“He was the only governor seeking a second term who chose to
stay, hoping that party leaders would demonstrate decorum and take appropriate
action,” he said.
According to him, in a series of meetings that lasted for
weeks, Lawal had informed stakeholders that he acknowledged their request to
defect to the APC but would make a final decision after the appeal court
judgment.
“The appellate judgment ended Governor Dauda Lawal’s stay in
the Peoples Democratic Party, as he prioritised the interests of Zamfara
state,” the statement added.
“He joined the All Progressives Congress to sustain the
Zamfara Rescue and Rebuild mission.”
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