Destiny Delayed, Not Denied: Keyamo Welcomes Zamfara Governor Back To APC

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has warmly welcomed the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, back to the All Progressives Congress (APC), recounting a political journey he described as proof that destiny may be delayed but can never be denied.

In a reflective message shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Keyamo narrated how Lawal’s political path with the APC began years before his eventual emergence as governor.

According to the minister, in the build-up to the 2019 general elections, Lawal was firmly within the APC fold and enjoyed the strong backing of close associates and political allies who believed in his vision for Zamfara State.

Keyamo revealed that he and other supporters worked tirelessly at the time to secure the party’s governorship ticket for Lawal so he could contest under the APC banner.
However, the effort proved unsuccessful.
“Everything possible was done to secure the ticket for him,” Keyamo recalled, noting that Lawal was ultimately denied the opportunity amid intense internal rivalries within the party. The situation, he added, escalated into political hostilities that subjected Lawal to what he described as unjust persecution from opponents within the party.

Despite those setbacks, Keyamo said loyal supporters rallied around Lawal, standing firmly by him during the difficult period.
Ironically, the internal conflicts among the rival factions that sidelined him eventually weakened the party in Zamfara, leading to a disastrous outcome in which the APC lost all its elective seats in the state.

Years later, Lawal quietly charted a new course.
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, he moved to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he secured the governorship ticket and went on to win the election convincingly, becoming the Governor of Zamfara State.

Now, in what Keyamo described as a remarkable full-circle moment, Lawal has returned to the APC—this time not as an aspirant seeking a ticket, but as a sitting governor and the undisputed leader of the party in Zamfara State.
“Destiny can be delayed, but not denied,” Keyamo wrote, as he welcomed the governor back to what he called the progressive family.
The minister concluded his message with a warm greeting: “Welcome back home, Your Excellency.”