Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has intensified efforts to secure the removal of Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, as part of conditions for his proposed defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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Sources familiar with the matter said Governor Lawal is seeking control of the APC structure in Zamfara ahead of his anticipated move to the ruling party.
The governor reportedly held a strategic meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Paris, France, alongside the governors of Enugu and Taraba states. At the meeting, Lawal is said to have expressed his willingness to join the APC, contingent on specific conditions being met, including Matawalle’s removal.
The Paris meeting, held at the Peninsula Hotel months ago, marked a turning point in ongoing negotiations, with the Zamfara governor returning home to consolidate his political leverage.
Insiders allege that Lawal has consistently pressed the Presidency to oust Matawalle from office and transfer APC leadership in the state to him as a prerequisite for joining the party. The recent resignation of Mohammed Badaru as Minister of Defence reportedly renewed the governor’s push for these conditions.
Political analysts suggest Lawal’s strategy is anchored on his desire to assume full influence within the APC should his defection materialize. Sources claim the governor is receiving backing from key security circles to generate reports capable of undermining Matawalle’s standing.
Once Matawalle is removed, the governor is said to plan mobilizing his PDP structure and loyalists into the APC to consolidate dominance ahead of the 2027 general elections. Observers note that Lawal perceives Matawalle as a stumbling block to his political ambitions in the northwest region, particularly due to the latter’s growing influence and recognition for security interventions.
Matawalle has recently been credited with key federal assignments, including the rescue of abducted students in Kebbi State and efforts to restore peace in parts of Sokoto and Zamfara.
The unfolding power struggle between the two political figures is now shaping up as one of the most consequential realignments in Zamfara and the northwest, with both men vying for control, influence, and relevance ahead of future elections.
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