The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied fresh rumours making rounds that it’s trying to lure Governor Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into defecting.
According to the party, not only are the reports false, but they are also part of a coordinated misinformation campaign aimed at distracting the public from the PDP’s internal failures.
“At no time did the Zamfara APC approach Governor Dauda or the PDP about defection. We’re not even thinking about it,” the APC’s state publicity secretary, Alhaji Yusuf Idris, stated in a press release on Sunday.
The rumour mill had been churning last week with online blogs and WhatsApp forwards claiming that Governor Lawal was holding secret talks with APC bigwigs. But the party insists this is fake news with no basis.
Idris said APC has no reason to consider Governor Lawal, citing what he called “his poor performance and rejection by the people.”
He pointed to the recent Kaura Namoda South House of Assembly bye-election on August 16, where the APC recorded a landslide victory against the PDP as proof that the ruling party in the state has lost its grip.
The Kaura Namoda South bye-election was seen by many as a litmus test for the PDP’s strength in Zamfara – and they failed it. The APC not only secured a comfortable win, but several PDP members have since crossed over to the APC.
“Even their candidate has joined us,” Idris said, describing the defection wave as a clear sign that the people were tired of what he called the PDP’s “dismal governance.”
He also warned against relying on unverified online platforms, saying the APC does not need propaganda to remain relevant.
“We’re not desperate. We don’t need to lie to stay popular. Our performance speaks for itself,” he said.
