Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has vowed to pursue legal action against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after being unexpectedly blocked from obtaining nomination forms for the party’s national chairmanship position on Monday.
The dramatic scene unfolded at the PDP National Headquarters in Wadata Plaza, where Lamido arrived with his supporters at 11 a.m. as previously announced, only to be denied access to purchase the nomination forms.
Addressing journalists immediately after the incident, an visibly agitated Lamido declared his intention to challenge the party’s decision through legal means. “I came here today fully prepared to contest for the chairmanship of our great party at the forthcoming National Convention in Ibadan,” Lamido stated. “However, certain elements within the party have chosen to subvert democratic processes. If they refuse to provide the form, we shall meet in court.”
The development comes amid reports of behind-the-scenes maneuvering within the PDP leadership. Daily Trust had earlier revealed that governors elected under the party’s platform had thrown their weight behind former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, for the chairmanship position.
Lamido, who served as Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister and two-term governor of Jigawa State, had formally declared his intention to run for the position through his verified Facebook page earlier on Monday. “By the grace of God, I shall today, Monday, 27th October 2025, by 11 a.m., be at Wadata Plaza, the national headquarters of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, to purchase the nomination form to run for the office of National Chairman,” he had written.
The former governor’s legal threat adds another layer of complexity to the PDP’s preparations for its November 15th and 16th elective National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State. Other prominent contenders who had indicated interest in the position include former Governors Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano) and Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna).
Political analysts suggest that Lamido’s exclusion from the race and his subsequent reaction could expose deeper divisions within the opposition party as it seeks to reposition itself ahead of future elections.
As at press time, the PDP National Working Committee had yet to issue an official statement regarding Lamido’s allegations and his threatened legal action. Party insiders indicate that the situation remains fluid, with possibilities for both legal and political resolutions in the coming days.
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