Zamfara Assembly Declares No Confidence in Governor Lawal, Accuses Him of Neglect and Political Vendetta 

In a dramatic move that has plunged Zamfara State into a fresh political crisis, the state’s House of Assembly has taken the unprecedented step of passing a unanimous vote of no confidence against Governor Dauda Lawal.

The decision, reached during a tense four-hour emergency session in Gusau on Friday, was publicly announced on Saturday. The assembly, led by Speaker Alhaji Alyu Gumi, issued a scathing statement detailing a litany of failures attributed to the governor.

Lawmakers launched a blistering critique, accusing Governor Lawal of abandoning his core constitutional duties. They asserted that instead of governing, he has channeled his energies and state resources into a relentless political feud with his predecessor, Bello Matawalle. The statement alleged that billions of naira from the state’s coffers have been diverted to fund this personal conflict, with the Assembly promising imminent exposure of these alleged financial misdeeds.

The core of their condemnation focused on the state’s devastating insecurity. The Assembly reminded the public that Governor Lawal campaigned on a flagship promise to restore peace, a slogan that now rings hollow. They expressed profound concern over his perceived indifference to the rampant banditry that continues to cripple the state’s economy and terrorize its citizens. The lawmakers particularly condemned the governor’s alleged refusal to visit or send aid to communities ravaged by terrorist attacks, describing it as a grave failure of leadership and empathy.

The statement suggested that Governor Lawal’s vendetta against Matawalle stems from “jitters” over the former governor’s enduring popularity, with the current administration already “foreseeing defeat” in future elections.

In a final act of defiance, the Assembly pledged to relentlessly hold the governor accountable, vowing to ensure adherence to the rule of law and proper stewardship of public trust. Striking a contrasting note of appreciation, the session concluded with commendations for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the defense ministers, and military personnel engaged in the national fight against terrorism.

This vote marks a severe rupture in the relationship between the state’s executive and legislative arms, setting the stage for a protracted political confrontation in the troubled North-West state.