Commissioner Resigns Over Gov Lawal’s Defection To APC

Zamfara State commissioner for Education, Science and Technology in Zamfara State, Mallam Wadatau Madawaki, has resigned from the State Executive Council (SEC) following the defection of Governor Dauda Lawal from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Madawaki, who confirmed his resignation yesterday, said his decision was based on his loyalty to the PDP, which he has no intention to leave.

“I only resigned because the governor is joining the APC. I am a PDP member, I have never been in the APC and I am not ready to be an APC member,” he said.

The former commissioner dismissed claims that he was forced to step down, insisting that his resignation was voluntary and guided by personal conviction.

“The governor has never forced anyone to resign. Even during the stakeholders’ meeting, he made it clear that nobody would be forced to join the party. I only resigned because I believe it is the honourable thing to do,” he added.

Governor Lawal has since accepted the resignation, according to the secretary to the state government (SSG), Malam Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada, who announced that the commissioner for Budget and Planning, Abdulmalik Abubakar Gajam, had been directed to act as the commissioner of education with immediate effect.

The development comes after Governor Lawal defected from the PDP to the APC alongside his deputy, Mani Malam Mummuni, and several members of the SEC, citing internal disagreements within the opposition party.