Year: 2025

Former Jigawa State Governor and PDP leader, Sule Lamido, has threatened to take legal action if he is denied the opportunity to purchase nomination forms ahead of the party’s national convention, scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State. Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, Lamido said his efforts to obtain the PDP National Chairman nomination form were unsuccessful, and he implicated both the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, in the issue. At the PDP’s 102nd National Executive Committee meeting on August 25 in Abuja, the party zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South while reserving the National Chairman position for the North. Northern leaders later “micro-zoned” the chairmanship to the North-West, leading to the endorsement of former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as the consensus candidate. Lamido and other Northern stakeholders loyal to him expressed dissatisfaction, claiming they were not consulted before the endorsement. Meanwhile, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike is reportedly supporting former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom for the same position. Lamido arrived at the PDP National Headquarters at Wadata Plaza around 11 a.m. with supporters but found offices locked, preventing him from purchasing the nomination forms. Although the National Convention Organising Committee, chaired by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, operates from Legacy House in Maitama, Lamido insisted that forms should have been made available at Wadata Plaza. He said, “PDP is a family of Nigerians committed to democracy. By party constitution, forms are normally sold at headquarters, so I came to purchase mine.” Lamido described the locked offices as unusual, noting that party officials he met had no information about the forms’ location or distribution. Acknowledging that the process is now managed by the Convention Committee, Lamido said he may have to go to Adamawa to obtain the forms. He added, “The closing date has been extended. All decisions must be approved by the NEC, but it seems the NEC’s role has been taken over by individuals. I am optimistic, but if I don’t get the form, I will go to court. PDP must organise its house and follow its constitution to win elections.” Lamido emphasized that his main goal is to strengthen PDP into a united and disciplined party capable of defeating the APC. He rejected the governors’ consensus arrangement, claiming it was reached without proper consultation. He explained, “If there are consultations, consensus is possible. But our zone never met. The Governor of Zamfara had scheduled a meeting for Wednesday, but it was preempted with a Tuesday meeting. That’s the problem.”