Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has said the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention in Ibadan brought his long-standing association with the party to an end.
Speaking through a statement issued on Tuesday, March 10, by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, the governor explained that the appellate court ruling reinforced his decision to leave the PDP and join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
On Monday, March 10, the Court of Appeal upheld an earlier decision of the Federal High Court that restrained the PDP from conducting its national convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.
A three-member panel of the appellate court dismissed an appeal filed by the PDP, which had challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to hear the matter.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam held that the party violated constitutional provisions guiding the conduct of its convention.
The judge agreed with the lower court’s finding that the PDP failed to serve the required notice of the convention to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Despite the ruling, the faction of the party led by Kabiru Turaki rejected the judgment and directed its legal team to challenge the decision at the Supreme Court.
Shortly after the verdict, Lawal and his deputy, Mani Mummuni, announced their defection from the PDP to the APC.
In the statement, the governor said the judgment marked the final point in his decision to leave the party after months of political uncertainty and internal disputes.
“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.
According to Idris, the governor had previously remained in the PDP despite mounting pressure, hoping that the party’s leadership would resolve its internal disagreements.
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“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,” the statement reads.
However, attempts to resolve the crisis through dialogue and legal settlement were unsuccessful.
“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,” the statement reads.
Idris described the governor as “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.
He added that Lawal had consulted extensively with political stakeholders in the state before making the move.
“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 statement reads.
“The appellate judgment ended Governor Dauda Lawal’s stay in the Peoples Democratic Party, as he prioritised the interests of Zamfara state. He joined the All Progressives Congress to sustain the Zamfara Rescue and Rebuild mission,” the statement concluded.
Lawal’s departure deals yet another blow to the PDP, which continues to hemorrhage key figures at a time when it can least afford to.
With the 2027 elections on the horizon, the opposition party now faces the difficult task of rebuilding without one of its most prominent sitting governors.