Dauda Lawal: A’court Judgment on Ibadan Convention Ended My Stay in PDP

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.

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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.”