Former Jigawa State Governor and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sule Lamido, has threatened to take legal action against the party if he is not allowed to purchase the nomination form to contest for the position of National Chairman ahead of the forthcoming national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Lamido, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Monday after being unable to obtain the form at the PDP National Secretariat, expressed frustration that key party officials were unavailable and that the offices were locked.
“I came here to purchase my own form because, by the party constitution, sales of forms are normally at the party headquarters. That’s why I’m here,” Lamido said.
“But the office of the National Organising Secretary, where the forms are usually sold, was locked. I think it was officially locked, you know, because of his own position.”
He explained that he met with the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the National Organising Secretary, Umaru Bature, but both claimed they had no knowledge of where the forms were being sold.
“Both of them said they had no idea where the forms are, not even how they were printed or the kind of forms they are. They had no idea where they were being sold,” Lamido stated.
The PDP, during its 102nd National Executive Committee meeting on August 25, 2025, in Abuja, had zoned the 2027 presidential ticket to the South while allocating the National Chairmanship position to the North.
Following this, Northern party leaders met and reportedly micro-zoned the chairmanship to the North-West, where former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), was endorsed as a consensus candidate.
However, Lamido and his supporters have rejected the endorsement, insisting that there was no proper consultation.
“If there are consultations, there can be consensus. But if there are no consultations, then we are not united on board,” he said.
The former governor alleged that the process had been hijacked by a few individuals within the party, sidelining the NEC’s constitutional authority.
“All decisions of the party must be done by the NEC. Any change of date or time must be approved by the NEC. Somehow, I think the entire function of the NEC has been taken over by individuals,” he stated.
Lamido, who described the PDP as a “family of wonderful Nigerians committed to democracy,” expressed optimism that internal disagreements would not derail the party’s unity.
“It’s a family thing. We’ll never fight, no matter what, because we want to win the election. If we fight, we’ll lose. Our opponents are outside — the APC and their system,” he said.
He, however, maintained that he would not hesitate to approach the court if denied access to the nomination form.
“That is why I am trying to buy the form. And if I don’t get the form, I will go to court, simple. The PDP should be able to organise its own house and run the party based on its constitution, doing the right thing at all times,” Lamido warned.
He emphasised that his ambition was not merely about personal interest but about rebuilding the PDP into a united and disciplined platform capable of “rescuing Nigeria and Nigerians from the APC.”
Lamido concluded, “The only way we can win is by having a party that is disciplined. If the party is not organised and we don’t follow our own constitution and procedures, how do we win elections?”
