Politics
Real Reasons Why APC Rejected Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal
*Why PDP Members Are Abandoning Governor’s Party
*Other Details Inclusive
By Fatima Bello
Fresh facts have emerged on why the All Progressives Congress (APC) outrightly rejected overtures from Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State to join its ranks.
The governor, it was gathered, has been branded a “political liability” whose entry would “spell doom” for the party’s prospects in the North-West ahead of the 2027 elections.
This firm stance comes amid a torrent of defections from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with key lawmakers, ward leaders, and even a gubernatorial-backed candidate abandoning ship, citing the governor’s “woeful failures” in governance as the primary catalyst.
Sources close to the APC’s state and national leadership, speaking exclusively to Aljazirah on condition of anonymity, revealed that Governor Lawal’s repeated lobbying attempts – including a high-stakes meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa earlier this week – were met with outright dismissal.
“The governor’s administration has presided over unprecedented insecurity, infrastructural decay, and economic stagnation,” one senior APC figure confided.
“Welcoming him would not only tarnish our image but also alienate our growing youth base, who see him as the architect of Zamfara’s woes.”
The APC’s rejection is rooted in several damning indictments against Lawal’s two-year tenure.
First, his alleged ties to controversial figures from past administrations, including former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and ex-Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, have raised red flags about potential corruption probes.
Insiders claim Lawal’s defection bid is less about ideology and more about seeking a “soft landing” from federal anti-graft agencies like the EFCC and ICPC, which have reportedly been sniffing around his financial dealings. 
Second, the governor’s handling of the state’s security crisis – a perennial albatross in banditry-plagued Zamfara – has been lambasted as politicized incompetence.
Despite campaign promises to eradicate banditry “within two months,” attacks have intensified, with military withdrawals from key bases attributed to Abuja’s distrust of his administration. 
The governor has been accused of “hypocritically” blaming federal forces while his failures drive PDP defections, while “members are fleeing a party under a leader who lacks direction.”  
Compounding these issues is Lawal’s alleged misuse of state funds on political vendettas, including a reported ₦4 billion sunk into a failed by-election bid for a PDP candidate who promptly defected to the APC afterward.  
The governor has been slammed for his “reckless spending on futile pursuits,” which exemplifies the “incompetence” defining his rule. 
Several groups had cautioned that Lawal’s record – marked by unpaid salaries, institutional breakdowns, and a surge in banditry – makes him “unfit for the ruling party’s fold.”  
As the APC fortifies its barriers, the PDP in Zamfara is hemorrhaging members at an alarming rate, with defections accelerating over the past fortnight.
The most high-profile exit came on Tuesday when Hon. Maharazu Salisu, representing Maradun II Constituency in the Zamfara State House of Assembly, led a mass crossover to the APC at the party’s Gusau secretariat.
Flanked by five PDP ward chairmen – including Ahmad Lawal of Gidan Goga Ward, Sanusi Ahmad Liman of Tsibiri Ward, and Lawal Mohammed of Kaya Ward – Salisu lambasted Lawal for “abandoning loyalists” and failing to deliver on core pledges like security and constituency projects.  
 “My constituents summoned me; they’ve seen no dividends of democracy under this PDP,” Salisu declared, vowing that his move signals the “end of Lawal’s grip on the assembly.” 
This follows a pattern of betrayals: Last week, former PDP by-election candidate Muhammad Lawal Kuryar Madaro – whom sources say Lawal bankrolled with billions – defected, blaming “rising insecurity and leadership drift.” 
Earlier, Hon. Maharazu Faru (Maradun II) cited “neglect and unfulfilled promises” in his jump to the APC, accompanied by hundreds of supporters. 
Reports now swirl of seven more PDP lawmakers poised to follow, potentially slashing Lawal’s assembly allies to just four – a precarious minority that could trigger impeachment proceedings.  
APC State Chairman Hon. Tukur Danfulani Maikatako hailed the influx as proof that “Zamfara will soon be entirely APC,” crediting ex-governors Bello Matawalle and Abdulaziz Yari for “shrinking the PDP through superior vision.” 
Governor Lawal, who jetted to Abuja post-defections for crisis talks with Tinubu, has downplayed the turmoil.
Yet, insiders paint a grimmer picture: Late-night huddles with wavering lawmakers reveal a governor in “panic mode,” desperate to stem the bleed before it erodes his re-election bid.
Other details emerging from our probe paint a state on the brink. The APC’s assembly dominance (now 13 seats to PDP’s 11) has stalled Lawal’s ₦545 billion 2025 budget, deemed “illegal” for procedural lapses amid suspended members.  
Politics
RSHA continues impeachment of Fubara, writes Chief Judge
The Rivers House of Assembly has continued its resolution to impeach Gov. Siminalaye Fubara and his deputy, Nma Odu.
All 26 members of the Assembly on Friday unanimously resolved during plenary to proceed with the impeachment process against both Fubara and Odu.
Consequently, the lawmakers resolved to write to the Chief Judge(CJ) of the State, as enshrined in Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
They are urging the CJ to constitute a seven-man investigative panel to examine the alleged gross misconduct leveled against the governor and his deputy.
Politics
Sen. Yari’s constituency office lauds APC e-registration exercise in Zamfara
Hon. Sha’ayau Sarkinfawa, the Coordinator, Sen.. Abdul’aziz Yari Constituency office for Zamfara West Senatorial District, has commended the ongoing nationwide membership e-registration exercise of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sarkinfawa, who stated this while speaking with journalists in Gusau on Thursday, stated that the exercise would promote integrity and credibility in the party membership.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC nationwide e-registration exercise commenced recently and would run until the end of this month.
He described the exercise as the bedrock for internal democracy.
“The APC e-registration would strength the party’s membership.
“The ongoing APC e-registration exercise is a wise political initiative and imperative determined to upgrade the data of the progressive party members electorally,” Sarkinfawa further said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for making the APC proud and wished him more strength ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
According to him, Yari and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, had already built a stronger political platform in the APC structure of the state.
“Therefore, we are expecting a tremendous success.at the end of the exercise” he added.
Sarkinfawa further said, the exercise would provide an ample opportunity for all the eligible members of the party to be duly captured in its digital register.
He added, “It will also ensure accuracy, transparency and integrity in the party’s membership.
“The exercise guarantees sanity and credibility of the party’s membership register.
“A data-driven membership registration is expected to capture every eligible member of the party across the 147 political wards of the state.
“Therefore, our members should participate fully in the exercise and make sure they are captured electronically.
“I therefore urge all APC members and stakeholders in the state to take full advantage of the e-registration and participate promptly and responsibly.$
Sarkinfawa further described the APC as the most dominant political party in Zamfara and Nigeria. adding that it would record massive victories in the 2027 General Elections.
Cover
Soludo denies Bianca Ojukwu’s chieftaincy title, calls it fake
Anambra State Governor Prof Charles Soludo, has disowned the chieftaincy title of ‘Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora’ conferred on the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, purportedly by the embattled traditional ruler of Awka, Obi Austin Ndigwe, insisting that Ndigwe is not a traditional ruler in Awka or Anambra State.
In a letter dated December 31, 2025 and signed by the state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, TonyCollins Nwabunwanne, the state government said the conferment of the chieftaincy title on the minister did not follow the right channel.
Nwabunwanne said the conferment of chieftaincy titles in Anambra State is the exclusive prerogative of recognised/certified traditional rulers in their respective communities, and they do so only to residents/indigenes of their communities.
He added that in the case of a person not from the community, the approval of the traditional ruler of the conferee’s community and the Commissioner for Local Government, Communities and Chieftaincy must be sought and obtained.
According to him, this is in line with the extant Traditional Rulers’ Code of Conduct, insisting that none of the above conditions was met in the case of Bianca Ojukwu.
He said the chieftaincy title as posted by Ojukwu on her social handles have caused massive confusion in the camp of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and across the state.
The letter is titled, ‘Amb. Bianca Ojukwu and the fake chieftaincy title from a fake traditional ruler’, was made available to journalists on Thursday.
It read partly, “The attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to a publication by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H.E Amb. Bianca Ojukwu indicating that she has been conferred with a chieftaincy title of ‘Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora’, which according to her was “conferred at the prestigious Igu Aro Cultural Festival by His Majesty Obi Austin Ndigwe (MON).
“Mrs Ojukwu is an APGA chieftain and her posts have caused massive confusion leading many to wonder whether her involvement in the phoney chieftaincy title signals a change in the state government’s policy stance or simply an unnecessary/avoidable affront to the state government and the Anambra traditional institutions and culture.
“As a government committed to law and order and to the promotion and protection of our culture and traditional institutions, the Anambra State Government wishes to clarify and state as follows a) The conferment of chieftaincy titles in Anambra State is the exclusive prerogative of recognized/certified traditional rulers in their respective communities, and they do so only to residents/indigenes of their communities.
“In the case of a person not from the community, the approval of the Traditional Ruler of the conferee’s community and the Commissioner for Local Government, Communities and Chieftaincy must be sought and obtained. This is in line with the extant Traditional Rulers’ Code of Conduct. None of the above conditions was met in the case under reference.
“Chief Austin C. Ndigwe IS NOT a traditional ruler in Awka or Anambra State. To put it mildly, he is simply an impostor. We have sighted a letter signed by him under a letterhead as the “Eze Uzu III” of Awka (a clear criminal offence under the Anambra Law) when the traditional ruler of Awka, HRH Gibson Nwabueze Nwosu (Eze Uzu II) is still alive, and with the official certificate and recognition by government as the traditional ruler of Awka.
“The 92-year-old Eze Uzu Awka is known to be the first Nigerian that flew a fighter jet solo. He was Second in Command in the Biafran Air Force who left with Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu to Cote d’Ivoire and later to Zambia— and was in exile for 15 years. It was this same Eze Uzu Gibson Nwosu who in 2004 conferred the chieftaincy title of OMENIFE AWKA on the current president of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
“Sadly, it is this aged veteran, now blind but still agile, who this dance of infamy is denigrating as well as insulting the sensitivities of Awka people and the Anambra traditions and culture. Even the late Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu will be turning in his grave at this unwarranted insult on HRH Gibson Nwosu designed just to wet some megalomaniacal appetite. In the Anambra/Igbo culture, this is an abomination.
“Hon Minister Ojukwu—with her background and pedigree, knows or should know these FACTS very well. She was in the home of Chief Ndigwe when the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, attended his birthday celebration a few years ago and publicly advised him “as a friend” to desist from impersonating the traditional ruler of the town and that the recognised traditional ruler remained HRH Gibson Nwosu.
“The video went viral. Indeed, in her publication in her verified Facebook account, Mrs Ojukwu carefully avoided referring to Mr. Ndigwe as a traditional ruler but rather described him as “Supreme Commander of Awka Ancient Kingdom”—a phantom title/position that does not exist in Awka.
“We do not object to whatever pet name she chooses to call her friend to massage his ego, but such must not be elevated to a point of sacrilege against law and custom. The whole exercise appears to be an indirect affront to the authority of the Traditional Ruler of Awka and the sanctity of the Traditional Institution in Anambra State established by the Traditional Rulers Law of Anambra State. By proceeding to describe Mr. Ndigwe conjunctively as “His Majesty” and “Obi”, the message unequivocally evinced an intention to portray and as a matter of fact portrayed him as a Traditional Ruler. This is against the spirit of the Traditional Rulers Law of Anambra State.
“By purporting to confer a chieftaincy title, Mr. Ndigwe usurped the ceremonial functions of the bona fide Traditional Ruler of Awka—HRH Gibson Nwosu—and this is totally unacceptable. Arrogating to oneself the non-existent and childish title of “Supreme Commander” and using same to confer vain Chieftaincy titles is designed to subjugate
the Traditional Ruler and ridicule the Traditional Institution thereby creating a dangerous precedent which the State Government will not allow. The State Government will not tolerate this desecration of the Traditional Institution and will take every lawful step to promote and protect our culture and traditional institutions.
“Amb. Bianca Ojukwu knows that Mr. Ndigwe has neither legal nor customary rights to confer a Chieftaincy title on anyone. She is eminently qualified to be honoured with Chieftaincy titles by recognized traditional institutions—at least, as the wife of late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu.
“But it cannot be a vain or fake Chieftaincy title from an impostor or fake traditional ruler like Mr. Ndigwe. We therefore state that the Chieftaincy title she purports to have received from Mr. Austin Ndigwe is fake and not recognized under the Anambra culture and tradition or law. She should desist from addressing herself by any such fake title conferred by Mr. Austin Ndigwe.
“In conclusion, Anambra State government wishes to assure our people that it is committed to a new social order. We must restore sensible values and respect for law and order, custom and tradition and ennobling values that elevate our collective social consciousness rather than the nascent subculture that celebrates a few with megalomaniacal delusions and who attempt to play God.
“These few cannot be role models for our children nor the foundation for our future. As a responsible government we must take all necessary steps to protect our collective heritage from willful assault. To the great and law abiding people of Awka, we have your back.”
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