Vice President Kashim Shettima arrived in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, on Tuesday to formally receive Governor Dauda Lawal into the All Progressives Congress (APC). The high profile defection ceremony marked Lawal’s official exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his return to the ruling party. As reported by ALO360, the event drew significant political attention as it signaled a major shift in the political landscape of the northwestern state.
Preparations for the Reception
The Zamfara State chapter of the APC concluded extensive arrangements ahead of the visit. State APC Chairman Tukur Danfulani Maikatako announced the plans during a stakeholders meeting held in Gusau on Saturday before the event. He stated that Shettima would lead the national leadership of the party to officially welcome Lawal into the APC fold. Maikatako described the occasion as a homecoming for the governor, who previously maintained membership in the party before his defection to the PDP. Furthermore, he emphasized that the reception underscored the APC’s commitment to unity and political inclusiveness in Zamfara.
Calls for Party Unity
Maikatako used the opportunity to appeal to party members across the state. He urged them to set aside internal differences and work collectively toward progress. “I also call on you to forget factionalism in the party and remain united. We are all politically one family that has many things in common,” he said. Additionally, he called on members across the 147 wards in the 14 local government areas to turn out in large numbers to welcome the Vice President. He noted that the visit carried significant weight as it would strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Chairman’s Remarks
Former state APC Chairman Lawal M. Liman also addressed the stakeholders. He encouraged members to mobilize support at the grassroots level by spreading the message across wards and local government areas. Liman emphasized the need for cohesion within the party. He described the APC as a collective platform committed to achieving common political goals. Moreover, he appealed to party loyalists to take the message down to their respective constituencies.
Context of the Defection
Governor Lawal defected from the PDP alongside his deputy, Mani Mummuni, and several members of the state executive council. The move followed internal challenges within the PDP. The Zamfara State Speaker and 12 PDP lawmakers also announced their defection to the APC. They presented their letters of defection at a plenary session in Gusau on Monday, just one day before the grand reception. Consequently, the defecting lawmakers joined Governor Lawal at the formal reception ceremony.
National Attention
The event attracted attendance from other APC governors, National Assembly members, and top notch members of the party within and outside Zamfara State. The party had strategized on how to mobilize supporters across the board to ensure a smooth and successful reception for the governor. Various committees formed to ensure a hitch free reception in the state. The Zamfara APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris, issued statements detailing the arrangements and appealing to all members, supporters, and well wishers to come out en masse.
Political Significance
Maikatako described Zamfara as a traditional stronghold of the APC. He stated that the governor’s decision to rejoin the party reflected renewed confidence in its platform. “We all know that Zamfara has long been one of the APC’s stronghold states, where the defected governor was once a bona fide member,” he said. He added, “Now that he has decided to return home, having been satisfied that the APC remains his preferred political platform after leaving for obvious reasons.”
