Zamfara PDP forum warns governor Dauda Lawal over loyalists’ neglect

The crisis within the Zamfara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be deepening as the Zamfara PDP Forum has warned Governor Dauda Lawal Dare against sidelining loyal party members who, they claim, worked tirelessly to ensure his 2023 election victory.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Forum accused the governor of neglecting core PDP loyalists while embracing defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC), whom they described as “rejected politicians.”

Speaking on behalf of the Forum, Ibrahim Gusau said it was “shameful” that those who risked their political capital to secure victory for the governor were now being pushed aside.

“It is shameful that PDP members, who are the true backbone of Governor Dauda Lawal’s success, are being sidelined while unserious APC rejects are being embraced. This is an insult to the blood, sweat, and resources of those who fought to deliver him in 2023,” Gusau said.

The group noted that the governor’s decision to favour defectors over loyalists had already begun to cost the party politically, citing the PDP’s recent defeat in the Zamfara bye-election as evidence of growing discontent among the grassroots.

“The message from the electorate is clear — you cannot win elections by abandoning the soldiers who carried you to victory. The defeat in the bye-election should have been a wake-up call, but instead, the governor is making matters worse,” Gusau added.

The Forum cautioned that if the trend continues, it could weaken the PDP’s structure in the state and erode public confidence in Governor Lawal’s leadership.

“Loyalty must be rewarded, not punished. Governor Dauda must return to the people who believed in him when no one else did,” the Forum warned.

Reaffirming its loyalty to the PDP, the group pledged to continue defending the interests of genuine party members, insisting that Zamfara “cannot afford another cycle of betrayal and neglect.”