The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has launched a scathing attack on Governor Dauda Lawal, calling for the Federal Government to immediately suspend statutory allocations to the state. The opposition party's demand stems from what it describes as the governor's persistent and illegal approach to presenting the state's annual budget.
Constitutional Violation Alleged in Budget Process
In a strongly-worded statement released by the State APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris Gusau, the party expressed profound concern over Governor Lawal's recent presentation of his third appropriation bill, valued at over N861 billion. The APC alleges that the budget, submitted to the State House of Assembly, is riddled with fundamental flaws.
The party further claims the government has failed to implement the previous year's budget, which it says was also passed in a "suspicious, unconstitutional, and illegal manner." A central accusation is that the 2025 budget proposal was presented to fewer than two-thirds of the 24-member House of Assembly. This, the APC asserts, is a gross violation of the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates a two-thirds majority for critical legislative decisions including budgets and impeachment proceedings.
A Repeated Anomaly and Political Conditions
"Because this anomaly went unchallenged last year by all but the opposition, the governor has chosen to repeat it," the APC statement lamented. The party accused the State Assembly of engaging in improper conduct regarding the appropriation bill, internal revenue generation, and public expenditure oversight.
In a related political development, the APC outlined conditions for Governor Lawal should he consider defecting to their party. One key demand is the release of over 200 APC members whom the governor is allegedly detaining without reasonable cause. The party also dismissed the governor's recent call for President Bola Tinubu to sack the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, as a deceptive tactic to deflect from his own failures in addressing the state's security and developmental challenges.
Implications for Governance and Federal Relations
The call to suspend federal allocations represents a significant escalation in the political feud within Zamfara State. It places the spotlight on the Federal Government's role in ensuring constitutional compliance in states' fiscal affairs. The allegations, if unaddressed, could potentially affect the flow of funds and development projects in the state, which is already grappling with security issues.
The APC's statement, dated 8 December 2025, underscores a deepening rift between the state's executive and the main opposition party, setting the stage for a protracted political and legal battle over governance and fiscal responsibility in Zamfara.
