Governor Dauda Lawal has nominated Professor Yahaya Zakari Abdullahi as a commissioner and member of the Zamfara State Executive Council.

The nomination was sent to the Zamfara State House of Assembly by the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada, for screening and approval in line with the Nigerian Constitution.

A statement issued by Suleman Ahmad Tudu, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Secretary to the State Government, said: “At its 177th sitting held on Thursday, May 7, 2026, the State Assembly swiftly screened and confirmed the appointment.”

Professor Zakari is known for his work in the education sector and public service. He has spent more than 20 years in academia, policy development and administration.

He also served as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Zamfara State University.

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, took another dimension on Thursday when key political loyalists and associates of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State announced their resolve to leave the party.

DAILY POST gathered that the PDP has been embroiled in a series of crises in the last few months.

Our correspondent reports that a faction of the party is loyal to the governor.

Another faction is loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike.

DAILY POST gathered that many key loyalists of Governor Seyi Makinde in Oyo State have left the party.

The loyalists announced their defection from the PDP on Thursday in separate locations.

Although there are speculations that they are on their way to the Allied Peoples’ Movement, none of those who resigned from the PDP stated the next political party they intend to join.

As at the last count, our correspondent learnt that no fewer than ten prominent chieftains of the party in the state had dumped the party.

Some of those who dumped the party are gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the party, Ambassador Olufemi Oguntoyinbo; Special Adviser on Security to the governor, Mr Fatai Owoseni; and Chairman of Oluyole Local Government Area, Engineer Akeem Olatunji.

Others are the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Abiodun Fadeyi; member of the House of Representatives representing Ibarapa North/Ibarapa Central Federal Constituency, Anthony Adepoju; his counterpart representing Ibadan North East/Ibadan South East Federal Constituency, Abass Adigun; and the member representing Ibadan North West/Ibadan South West Federal Constituency, Adedeji Olajide.

Fadeyi, who represents Ona Ara State Constituency in the House of Assembly, while speaking with DAILY POST, noted that he dumped the PDP due to the internal crisis rocking the party.

Fadeyi, in a telephone conversation with DAILY POST on Thursday, said: “Yes, I am also leaving the party. I am defecting, of course. The reason is what others are giving. What are the reasons others are giving? It is due to the internal crisis.”

Olatunji, a former Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, in his own remark, also cited internal crisis as the reason for his defection.

Olatunji, in a telephone conversation with DAILY POST on Thursday, said: “Yes, it is true. Due to the internal crisis. You know Wike has bastardized the party. He did not allow the party to breathe. We need to give the people of our constituency the opportunity to enjoy good governance.”

As at the time of filing this report on Thursday, DAILY POST gathered that more loyalists of the governor were on their way out of the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.