Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has thrown down the political gauntlet—loud and clear.
In an interview that felt more like a pre-match press conference than a policy chat, the soft-spoken banker-turned-governor turned up the volume, daring his predecessor and now-rival, Bello Matawalle, to meet him at the polls in 2027. His prediction? The fight will be over by breakfast.
“By 10 a.m. on election day, I would have defeated Matawalle again—InshaAllah,” Lawal declared on Channels Television, exuding the confidence of a man who has nothing to prove but everything to protect.
The comment, already trending across northern Nigeria’s political circles, came amid swirling rumours that Lawal might be eyeing a move to the All Progressives Congress (APC). But the governor was quick to shut that down.
“I’m still in the PDP. I have no intention of going anywhere—for now,” he said, offering just enough ambiguity to keep future speculations alive.
Lawal, who stunned the political elite in 2023 by defeating a sitting governor backed by a lineup of APC powerbrokers, reminded Nigerians of that upset.
“They had Sani Yerima, Shinkafi, Yari, Matawalle—big names—but they couldn’t stop me. So why should I be scared now?”
The remark was both a flex and a jab—one clearly aimed at Matawalle, who now serves as Minister of State for Defence and is rumoured to be plotting a political return.
Lawal, unfazed, practically dared the APC to field Matawalle again.
“I’m praying he gets the ticket. Let’s settle it again at the ballot.”
Despite the sharp political rhetoric, Lawal insisted he bore no grudge. In fact, he painted a picture of political coexistence with President Bola Tinubu—whom he described as a friend.
“I respect Mr President. We work together when needed. Matawalle’s appointment hasn’t changed that,” he explained.
The comment was strategic: a reminder that while Lawal remains firmly in the opposition PDP, his influence—and necessity—in national affairs is acknowledged by even those across the aisle.
With cracks appearing in the PDP, including defections to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Lawal admitted the party had issues—but called them normal.
“There’s no party in Nigeria without problems. But we’re working to fix ours. A fresh NEC meeting is scheduled for July 23,” he revealed.
He went further: “Sometimes it’s better that those who want to leave, leave. That way, we can rebuild a stronger, more united PDP.”
The confidence wasn’t just in rhetoric—it was grounded in experience.
“The same kind of turbulence existed in 2023—and I still defeated the APC,” he said.
With two years to go before Nigerians head to the polls again, the political terrain in Zamfara is already heating up. But Dauda Lawal doesn’t just appear unshaken—he looks like a man already scripting the next chapter of his political story.
And if his predictions hold, Bello Matawalle won’t make it past 10 a.m. on election day.
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal
