Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has said the outcome of the Court of Appeal judgment on the leadership dispute within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will determine his next political move.

Speaking at a PDP stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Gusau, Lawal linked his potential defection from the party to the court’s decision on the legality of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki’s leadership and the validity of the party’s Ibadan convention.

According to a statement from his Special Adviser on Media, Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, the meeting convened representatives from all 14 local government areas in line with INEC’s guidelines requiring parties to conclude congresses at least 300 days before the 2027 general election.

“The guidelines indicate that by April or May, all party congresses must be concluded. There are litigations surrounding the PDP at the national level. If we remain without exploring options, we may face uncertainty and others may take the credit,” Kaura said.

He added, “If the judgment is not in our favour, opinions are divided. Some prefer the APC; others the ADC, while some advocate forming a new party.”

Governor Lawal stressed that clarity on the PDP’s leadership structure is crucial, with the Appeal Court’s decision expected to significantly influence his political trajectory ahead of the 2027 polls.