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The All Progressives Congress (APC) flag was officially hoisted at the Zamfara State Government House in Gusau on Monday, March 10, 2026, replacing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) banner following the defection of Governor Dauda Lawal and his Deputy Governor, Mani Mummuni, to the APC.
A video circulating on X (formerly Twitter), shared by user @Imranmuhdz, captured the ceremonial moment as officials and security personnel supervised the orderly removal of the PDP flag and the raising of the APC’s green-white-sky blue standard at the Government House premises.
Governor Lawal was not physically present during the flag-changing ceremony. However, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Nuhu Anka, confirmed the development in an official statement, explaining that the decision followed extensive consultations with party leaders, stakeholders, elders, and supporters across the state.
“The government and PDP family of Zamfara State wish to formally inform the general public of an important political development following extensive consultations with stakeholders, political leaders, elders and supporters across the state.
“After careful consideration, and in the overriding interest of stability, progress, and the sustainable development of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, the Governor of Zamfara State, has decided to formally defect from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress,” the statement read.
The defection marks a significant shift in Zamfara’s political landscape, as Governor Lawal, who was elected on the PDP platform in 2023, has now aligned with the ruling party at the federal level. Deputy Governor Mani Mummuni also joined the move to the APC.
The flag-raising ceremony symbolised the formal transfer of the state’s political affiliation at the executive level, although the implications for the state House of Assembly, local government councils, and other elected offices remain subject to further developments and potential legal or procedural processes.
Analysts view the defection as part of a broader wave of political realignments in northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections, with several PDP governors and high-profile figures reconsidering their platforms amid internal party challenges and strategic calculations.
The APC now controls the governorship in Zamfara, further consolidating its position in the North-West geopolitical zone. No immediate reaction has been issued from the national leadership of the PDP or the APC regarding the development, though statements are expected in the coming days.
The event has already generated widespread reactions on social media, with supporters of both parties debating the motivations, timing, and potential impact on Zamfara’s governance and development agenda.
