Zamfara Education Commissioner Mallam Wadatau Madawaki Resigns Following Governor Dauda Lawal’s Strategic Defection to the APC

Commissioner Wadatau Madawaki resigns in Zamfara to remain in the PDP after Governor Dauda Lawal’s defection to the APC alongside top officials.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 6:10 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Daily Post Nigeria

Principles Over Power in the Zamfara Executive Council

The political landscape of Zamfara State has been shaken by the high profile resignation of Mallam Wadatau Madawaki, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology. Madawaki’s departure is a direct consequence of Governor Dauda Lawal’s recent decision to abandon the Peoples Democratic Party in favor of the All Progressives Congress. According to Madawaki, the decision to leave his post was a matter of personal conviction and long standing loyalty to his original political platform. He confirmed that he has no intention of joining the ruling party, marking a significant break from the majority of the state’s executive leadership who followed the governor in the shift.

The Voluntary Nature of the Administrative Exit

In an interview confirming his withdrawal from the cabinet, the former commissioner was quick to dispel rumors of administrative pressure or coercion. Madawaki insisted that his move was entirely voluntary and described it as the honorable course of action given the governor’s change in allegiance. According to Madawaki, Governor Lawal explicitly stated during stakeholders’ meetings that no appointee would be forced to follow him into the APC. This statement suggests that while the governor has sought to consolidate power through defection, he has maintained a level of procedural respect for those who choose to remain within the opposition ranks.

Immediate Restructuring of the Education Ministry

The state government has moved swiftly to fill the vacuum left by the commissioner’s sudden exit. According to a statement from the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Malam Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada, the resignation has been formally accepted by the governor. To ensure that the state’s academic and technological programs remain uninterrupted, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Abdulmalik Abubakar Gajam, has been directed to oversee the Ministry of Education in an acting capacity. This rapid reassignment of duties indicates an effort by the Lawal administration to maintain administrative stability amidst a period of intense political transition.