GUSAU, NIGERIA — A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, Hadiza Liman, has defected to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), announcing that she is moving with supporters across the state’s 14 local government areas.
Liman announced her defection on Friday while addressing journalists at her residence in Gusau. She cited what she described as neglect by Governor Dauda Lawal as a major reason for leaving the APC.
The development comes ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Zamfara, where political parties are already intensifying efforts to build support ahead of the poll.
Liman Explains Her Decision
Liman said she previously belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and later joined the APC following Governor Lawal’s movement from the PDP to the APC.
She claimed that she and her supporters had backed Lawal during his political rise but felt that the governor had subsequently failed to adequately address their concerns.
“Since we followed Governor Dauda Lawal from the PDP to the APC, Governor Dauda Lawal has failed to take care of us,” she said.
Her comments represent her own explanation for the defection, and the reports did not include a response from the Zamfara State Government to the allegations.
Over 5,000 Supporters Reportedly Join
Tribune reported that Liman said more than 5,000 of her supporters from the 14 local government areas had joined her in moving to the NDC.
The reported defection was formally announced in Gusau, with the NDC welcoming Liman and her supporters.
The chairman of the NDC in Galadima Ward, Gusau, Surajo Garba PA, described the development as significant for the party and welcomed the new members.
Backs Marafa For 2027
Following her defection, Liman declared support for the NDC governorship candidate, Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa, ahead of the 2027 Zamfara governorship election.
She expressed confidence in Marafa’s candidacy and called on residents to support him at the forthcoming election.
Liman also called on religious scholars in the state to reconsider their support for the governor and join the NDC.
Raises Concerns Over Ulamas Council Office
Liman cited additional concerns involving the state’s Ulamas Council office.
According to Tribune, she criticised what she described as a lack of respect for the office and alleged that its former location had been allocated to the office of the governor’s wife.
She said her position was influenced partly by her family’s Islamic background and her respect for religious institutions.
The allegation about the relocation and allocation of the office was made by Liman and was not independently established in the reports reviewed.
Defection Adds To 2027 Political Activity
The movement is another development in the growing political activity in Zamfara ahead of the 2027 elections.
Liman’s departure from the APC and reported mobilisation of supporters across the state’s 14 local government areas could add to the political contest involving the APC, NDC and other parties.
For now, the development remains centred on Liman’s decision and the support she says she is taking with her to the NDC.
The Zamfara State Government and the APC had not, in the reports reviewed, issued a detailed public response to Liman’s allegations about neglect.
