The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has welcomed the defection of Dauda Lawal, the governor of Zamfara State, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing his return to the party as the fulfilment of destiny after years of political struggle.
Keyamo, in a post on X on Tuesday, recounted Lawal’s earlier political battles within the APC and the circumstances that led to his initial departure from the party.
“Before I wholeheartedly welcome my brother and my bosom friend, Gov. of Zamfara State, H.E Dauda Lawal to the APC family, let me tell a short story he may not be in a position to say himself,” Keyamo wrote.
According to the minister, Lawal had sought the APC governorship ticket in the build-up to the 2019 elections but was denied the opportunity after what he described as intense internal political rivalry.
“In the run-up to the 2019 elections, Dauda Lawal was in the APC and we (his friends) did everything possible to secure the ticket for him to run as our candidate for the position of governor of Zamfara State on the platform of the APC,” Keyamo said.
“He was cruelly denied that ticket and unjustly persecuted by rivals. We also rallied behind him to stop those persecutions. His rivals then fought themselves to stupor and we lost all our seats in Zamfara.”
Keyamo further explained that Lawal later left the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he eventually secured the party’s governorship ticket and won the 2023 election.
“In 2023, he then quietly left to the PDP, secured the ticket and resoundingly won the gubernatorial election,” the minister said.
Keyamo described the governor’s latest move as a triumphant return to the APC, noting that Lawal is rejoining the party as a sitting governor and its leader in the state.
“Today, he makes a triumphal return to the progressive family as a sitting governor and leader of the party in Zamfara State. Destiny can be delayed, but not denied. Welcome back home,” he added.
Lawal formally announced his defection from the PDP to the APC on Monday following consultations with political stakeholders across Zamfara State.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by Nuhu Salihu Anka, which said the decision was taken after extensive consultations with political leaders, elders and supporters across the state.
According to the statement, the move was made in the interest of political stability, progress and sustainable development in Zamfara.
Lawal explained that his decision was influenced by the prolonged internal crisis, leadership disagreements and structural challenges within the PDP at both the national and state levels.
He noted that the lingering disputes within the party had continued to create uncertainty and distractions that could undermine effective governance.
The governor added that his priority remained the peace, security and development of Zamfara State, stressing that aligning with a political platform that offers greater unity and cooperation with the Federal Government had become necessary.