Nigeria TV Info 

Zamfara Governor Weighs Defection as INEC Deadline Looms

GUSAU, Nigeria – Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal is reportedly contemplating a defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) election timetable draws near.

According to political sources, APC leaders in Abuja have courted Gov. Lawal with an offer that includes an automatic governorship ticket for the 2027 poll and significant political appointments if he switches allegiance. Speculation suggests a negotiated deal where he would control 40 % of elective and political slots in the state, with the remaining 60 % shared among APC stakeholders.

However, Lawal has publicly tied his decision to the outcome of an ongoing legal battle within the PDP over its leadership and the legitimacy of its November 2025 national convention in Ibadan. He says the Court of Appeal’s ruling on this dispute will determine whether he stays with the PDP or defects.

Stakeholders in the state PDP maintain that Lawal will not abandon the party unless the internal crisis remains unresolved by the court. Meanwhile, INEC has raised concerns about internal party litigations and disputes, warning such crises could disrupt election planning as deadlines for primaries approach.

The developments unfold amid broader fluidity in Nigeria’s political landscape, with several governors and politicians repositioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.