The Mallam Wadatau Madawaki, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology in Zamfara State, has resigned from the state executive council after Governor Dauda Lawal defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Madawaki told Channels Television that his decision was rooted in loyalty to the PDP, which he has no plans 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, stressing that his resignation was voluntary and based on personal conviction.
He further dismissed claims that he was pressured to step down. “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,” Madawaki added.
Governor Lawal accepted the resignation, according to the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Malam Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada. Abdulmalik Abubakar Gajam, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, has been appointed to oversee the Ministry of Education in an acting capacity.
The move follows the defection of Governor Lawal, his deputy Mani Malam Mummuni, and several other members of the state executive council from the PDP to the APC, citing internal disagreements within the opposition party.
In a symbolic act shortly after the defection, the PDP flag was removed from the Zamfara Government House in the presence of the deputy governor and other cabinet members, marking the formal shift to the ruling party.
