A senior member of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has issued a strong warning to a former governor Sulei Lamido, stating that legal action against the party will not be tolerated.
Chief Bode George, a member of the PDP’s Board of Trustees, said that former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido risks facing formal disciplinary action if he follows through on his threat to sue the party.
The dispute centres on the process for electing a new national chairman.
The warning highlights rising internal tensions within the PDP as it prepares for a national convention to choose its leadership.
Lamido, who wishes to become the PDP’s national chairman, recently threatened to take the party to court if he was denied access to the nomination form. He claimed that during a visit to the party’s secretariat, officials told him they were unaware of the forms’ availability. He views this as an attempt to block his candidacy and favour a consensus candidate.
Chief Bode George does not challenge Mr Lamido’s right to run. Instead, he asserts that Mr Lamido must not bypass the party’s own internal conflict-resolution mechanisms. The party’s firm position is that going to court before exhausting all internal avenues is a serious offence that warrants punishment.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Chief George carefully outlined the party’s position. He affirmed Lamido’s right to contest but drew a firm line at legal action.
“This has been part of the practice in the PDP. The fact that some leaders converge to support one person as a consensus candidate doesn’t mean others cannot compete,” George said.
He explained that while the PDP encourages consensus to maintain unity, it does not bar any member from contesting elective positions.
“You want to make the process seamless and non-combative. We’ve done this before, but the party has never told anyone they cannot contest. Governor Sule Lamido has the right to compete,” he stated.
“He can get the form, fill it, and appear on the convention day. We will vote. That is the practice in our party,” he added.
However, the veteran politician was unequivocal in his caution against involving the courts. He emphasised that the party is a collective entity with established rules that must be respected.
“This party is not owned by any individual. Before taking the party to court, you must exhaust the internal dynamics of the party. If you fail to do that, you can be punished,” he said.
He reiterated that Lamido was free to contest but could face disciplinary measures if he chooses to sue the PDP.
“So, he is exercising his rights. But if he goes to court for this, he can be punished. Let him go, nobody will deny him any form, and he can compete. The final decision will be by delegates attending the convention, and it will be done openly,” George stated.
The public warning from Chief Bode George comes a day after Mr Lamido publicly voiced his frustrations. His threat of legal action suggests he believes the nomination process is not being conducted fairly and that he is being deliberately obstructed.
The PDP has historically promoted consensus candidates to avoid bitter internal fights. However, this approach sometimes leads to accusations from other aspirants that the process is being manipulated by a powerful few.
Chief George’s comments aim to reassure members that the process remains open while simultaneously enforcing party discipline. By stating that “nobody will deny him any form,” he seeks to defuse the specific allegation made by Mr Lamido.
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