Shehu Sani Urges Political Reconciliation in Zamfara Following Governor Dauda Lawal’s Strategic APC Defection

Shehu Sani calls for political reconciliation in Zamfara after Governor Dauda Lawal joins the APC, citing unity as key to ending the state's banditry crisis.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 10, 2026, 6:31 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Politics Nigeria

Former Lawmaker Envisions a New Era of Regional Reconciliation

Senator Shehu Sani has officially reacted to the shifting political landscape in the North-West, suggesting that Governor Dauda Lawal’s move to the All Progressives Congress should catalyze a broader peace process. In a statement released on Tuesday, Sani expressed hope that the defection would dismantle the long-standing barriers between the state’s rival political elites. According to Sani, the arrival of the Governor in the ruling party provides a unique opportunity to reset local governance and move beyond the partisan friction that has historically hampered regional progress. He maintains that this transition should be viewed as a strategic opening for reconciliation rather than a mere change in party affiliation.

Security Coordination Impaired by Prolonged Political Hostilities

A central theme of Sani’s reaction is the detrimental impact that political division has had on the state’s ability to combat rising insecurity. He remarked that years of bitter rivalries and institutional hostilities have seriously undermined the coordinated efforts required to tackle banditry effectively. In Sani’s view, the internal friction among leaders has often distracted from the primary duty of protecting the citizenry. By aligning under a single political platform, he suggests that the state’s leadership can finally synchronize their strategies and resources to confront the armed groups currently destabilizing the region.

Zamfara Identified as the Strategic Hub of North-West Banditry

Describing the state as the epicenter of banditry in the North-West, the former senator emphasized that the severity of the crisis demands an unprecedented level of political unity. Sani noted that the fragmentation of leadership has previously allowed criminal elements to exploit gaps in governance and security enforcement. He expressed optimism that with the Governor’s defection, all political stakeholders will now be on the same page, creating a unified front against the common enemy. This collective approach is seen as a mandatory shift if the state is to reclaim territory and restore safety to its rural communities.