Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has debunked rumours suggesting he is planning to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), affirming his continued allegiance to the party.
Speaking during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Wednesday, Lawal dismissed speculation about his alleged defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which has recently gained traction as a potential platform for opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“First of all, I’m glad you referred to it as a rumour — that APC, ADC, and other parties are reaching out to me,” he said. “I am a card-carrying member of the PDP and I remain fully committed. I have no plans to leave.”
The governor also brushed off claims that he might be considering defection due to political pressure from opponents in Zamfara, stating that similar forces had failed to prevent his victory in the 2023 elections.
“All the opposition forces, including former governors Sani Yerima and Bello Matawalle, were active during the last election, and I still emerged victorious,” Lawal said. “If the same scenario plays out in 2027, I’m confident I can defeat them again.”
While acknowledging that the PDP is currently facing internal challenges, he expressed optimism that the issues would soon be resolved.
On his rapport with President Bola Tinubu, Lawal described their relationship as cordial but clarified that they remain political rivals. When asked if he would support Tinubu’s possible re-election in 2027, the governor responded, “Let’s wait and see how things unfold.
We still have two years to go. For now, governance should be our priority, not politics.”