PDP Candidate in Zamfara By-Election Defects to APC, Cites Neglect by Party Leadership

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the recently concluded Kaura Namoda South Constituency by-election in Zamfara State, Mohammed Lawal, has dumped the opposition party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Lawal, who lost the by-election to the APC’s Kamilu Sa’idu, announced his defection on Saturday during a consultation meeting for Zamfara Central, organised by the APC support group, Yazeed Project, in Gusau, the state capital.

Speaking at the event, Lawal said his decision was borne out of dissatisfaction with the PDP leadership, particularly Governor Dauda Lawal, whom he accused of abandoning loyal members after the election.

“What influenced my decision to leave the PDP is personal. I am convinced that Governor Dauda Lawal has no feeling for the majority of people who worked day and night for his victory,” he stated.

He alleged that despite his efforts and long-standing contributions to the PDP’s success in previous elections, he was sidelined and unappreciated after the polls.

Lawal’s defection is seen as another setback for the PDP in Zamfara, where internal wranglings and dissatisfaction among party members have led to several defections since Governor Lawal assumed office.

In his remarks, a representative of the APC support group, Yazeed Project, commended Lawal for his “bold and patriotic decision” to join the ruling party, assuring him of equal treatment and opportunities within the APC structure.

The Kaura Namoda South by-election, conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was won by APC’s Kamilu Sa’idu, who defeated Mohammed Lawal and other candidates by a wide margin.

Political observers say Lawal’s defection underscores the shifting political alignments in Zamfara ahead of the next general elections, as both major parties intensify grassroots mobilization and strategic realignments.