The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says it has noted with concern a media report credited to Governor Dauda ...
The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says it has noted with concern a media report credited to Governor Dauda Lawal, in which he allegedly gave President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a condition to sack the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, before he would consider joining the APC.
According to the APC, this is not the first time Governor Dauda has been “playing hide and seek” with both the leadership of the ruling PDP in the state and the Presidency. The party alleges that while the governor secretly lobbies for acceptance into the APC, he simultaneously tells PDP members within and outside the state that he would never defect to the APC — a party he frequently criticizes.
This was contained in a statement signed by the APC Publicity Secretary in Zamfara State, Yusuf Idris Gusau.
Gusau said many of the governor’s aides “dance to the tunes of their paymaster like zombies,” claiming they see nothing good in the APC except those who have recently defected after realizing the “failure” of the PDP-led administration in the state. He added that these defectors are convinced that the APC will reclaim power in 2027, insisting that the party’s mandate was “openly stolen.”
He described Governor Dauda’s major political rival as his predecessor, now Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, whose “political calculations remain unmatched by new entrants like Dauda.”
The statement accused Governor Dauda Lawal of repeatedly undermining Matawalle’s efforts to support national security, including calling on President Tinubu to remove the minister over what the governor allegedly described as Matawalle’s “inadequacies.”
The APC further alleged that the governor does not allow President Tinubu’s billboards to stand anywhere in the state, claiming that thugs loyal to the governor routinely destroy them. “Yet he now wants to join the APC by giving conditions, without meeting the party’s own requirements,” the statement added.
Gusau credited Matawalle with delivering significant political value to the APC during the Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaigns, noting that he served as Director-General of the North-West Campaign Council and secured strong electoral support across the region.
The statement also recalled that when the President directed Matawalle to relocate to the North-West to coordinate military operations against banditry, the minister attempted to establish an operational base in Zamfara, described as an epicentre of criminal activity. However, the APC alleges that Governor Dauda refused to grant the necessary permission, forcing the military to move the base to Sokoto, where Governor Ahmed Aliyu “happily welcomed” them and notable successes were recorded.
The party also highlighted Matawalle’s recent coordination of the rescue of 24 students abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga in Kebbi State — a mission reportedly delivered within one week.
“While these national efforts were ongoing, Governor Dauda Lawal and his aides continued to show deliberate pessimism and repeatedly called for Matawalle’s removal,” the statement said.
The APC further stated that Matawalle, as the party leader in Zamfara, has continued to receive decampees from the PDP both in Abuja and within the state, to the “disappointment” of the ruling party.
According to the statement, the APC National Secretariat, President Tinubu and the Presidency are all “watching the unfolding scenario,” including Governor Dauda’s alleged plans to defect but his reluctance to approach Matawalle as required by the APC constitution.
The party recalled that after Matawalle publicly stated that the APC was ready to receive the governor if he followed the proper procedures, both Dauda and his supporters allegedly responded by insulting the minister, the President and the APC.
“Surprisingly, the same Dauda Lawal is now shamelessly giving conditions for his defection, insisting that President Tinubu must sack Matawalle before he joins the APC — not knowing that Matawalle remains far more politically relevant,” the statement added.
The party concluded by saying Governor Dauda “has no grounds to set conditions,” urging him instead to approach the APC leadership in the state with humility if he truly wishes to defect.
“He should start by releasing the 270 innocent APC members whom he has allegedly incarcerated simply because of their party affiliation. Only then can he come with clean hands,” the statement said.
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