Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has accused the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government of selectively distributing approximately N500 billion in intervention funds exclusively to states governed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that his state has been deliberately sidelined because it is controlled by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In an exclusive interview with Deutsche Welle Hausa aired on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Governor Lawal—who remains the only governor in Nigeria’s North-West geopolitical zone elected on the PDP platform—expressed deep frustration over what he described as partisan bias in the allocation of federal support.
“The Federal Government has never disbursed any intervention fund to Zamfara State unlike other states. I have it on good authority that some states have received over N500 billion from the Federal Government, but my state has not received a single kobo. I believe it is because I am not in the same party as them. I am in an opposition party,” Lawal stated.
The governor emphasized that since assuming office in May 2023, Zamfara has received only its statutory monthly federal allocation—no additional palliatives, ecological funds, security support grants, or other discretionary interventions that have reportedly been extended to several APC-controlled states amid economic hardship, insecurity, and inflation pressures.
Despite the alleged exclusion, Governor Lawal maintained that his administration has pressed ahead with development projects using internally generated revenue and prudent management of statutory funds. “Since I became governor in 2023, apart from the allocation we are entitled to, the Federal Government has not given us any additional intervention. But that has not stopped us from doing our best to execute projects for the betterment of our people,” he said.
He further disclosed that his government has avoided new borrowing, choosing instead to service inherited debts from the previous administration. “I have never borrowed any loan to run our state, not even one cent. Every month, N1.2 billion is deducted before the money is sent to us,” Lawal revealed, highlighting the financial constraints under which the state operates.
The governor also addressed speculation about his political future amid the PDP’s ongoing internal leadership crisis and factional disputes. He firmly ruled out defecting to another party, including the APC, insisting that loyalty and faith guide his decisions.
“As a Muslim, I believe only God gives power, no one else. I can’t betray my party just because we have internal issues. I will do my best to see the end of this issue we are facing,” he declared. “I can’t make that decision alone. I have to consult with my supporters before taking such a step. But if the PDP is fixed, then there will be no reason for me to move to any party.”
Governor Lawal’s allegations come at a time when several opposition governors have raised similar concerns about perceived partisan distribution of federal resources, including security votes, flood relief funds, and economic intervention packages. The Federal Government has consistently denied bias, maintaining that disbursements follow established criteria, needs assessment, and due process.
Zamfara, one of Nigeria’s most insecurity-plagued states, continues to grapple with banditry, kidnappings, and farmer-herder conflicts—challenges that have prompted repeated calls for enhanced federal support. Lawal’s administration has focused on community policing initiatives, youth empowerment, and agricultural revival despite limited extra-budgetary assistance.
The governor’s remarks have reignited debate over fiscal federalism, equitable resource allocation, and the politicization of federal interventions in Nigeria’s multi-party democracy. As the 2027 general elections draw closer, such accusations could further strain relations between the presidency and opposition-controlled states.
Neither the Presidency nor the APC has issued an immediate response to Governor Lawal’s specific claims as of the time of this report.
