A significant political rift within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) widened on Tuesday as key allies of former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, publicly called for him to abandon the party, citing a loss of ideological direction and deep-seated internal disarray.
The demand was formally issued by the “Former PDP Jigawa State Local Government Chairmen Forum” following a strategic meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Dutse.
In a press statement, the group declared that the PDP has deviated from the core principles established by its founding fathers and can no longer function as a viable platform for political contest.
The loyalists pinpointed a specific incident of alleged disrespect as a catalyst for their call. They condemned the treatment of Lamido during a visit to the party’s Wadata Plaza national secretariat in Abuja to purchase a nomination form for the national chairmanship position, describing the event as an embarrassment.
“The party’s national leadership seems weak and unwilling to act in the genuine interest of the party and its members,” the statement read, labelling the national chapter as “a disgrace.” It further criticized the “recent convention and show of shame” at the party’s headquarters, asserting that such conduct has tarnished the party’s image.
The forum positioned Lamido as one of the “few surviving founding fathers” of the PDP and stated that their allegiance to him superseded their loyalty to a fractured party. “As his loyalists, we cannot continue to watch anyone disrespect him, nor can we bear the embarrassment brought upon the party by opportunists,” the statement revealed.
The push for Lamido’s defection comes at a critical juncture for the PDP, which has been grappling with a protracted crisis of confidence and internal conflicts. The loyalists’ move also follows closely on the heels of another major departure; former Vice President and fellow founding father Alhaji Atiku Abubakar recently formalized his membership with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In their appeal, the group urged Lamido to seek “a better alternative party” that could offer a more favourable platform for him and other like-minded politicians to address the nation’s pressing challenges. They framed such a move as a necessary step to “liberate Nigeria from its current poor leadership, and the prevailing security and socio-economic crises.”
As of now, Alhaji Sule Lamido has not issued an official public response to the demands made by his loyalists. The development places immense pressure on the former governor, forcing him to choose between his historical ties to the party he helped build and the growing discontent among his core supporters who see no future in the current PDP structure.
Spear News reports that a Federal High Court in Abuja two weeks ago issued an order halting the upcoming national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, followed a lawsuit filed by Sule Lamido, who protested that the party had unjustly denied him the opportunity to purchase a nomination form to contest for the position of National Chairman.
The court found that the PDP’s actions violated its own constitution and internal regulations. As a consequential order, the judge directed that the planned convention be suspended to allow Lamido to obtain the nomination form, mobilize his supporters, and conduct his campaign.
The court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from supervising, monitoring, or recognizing any convention conducted by the PDP without including Lamido as a contestant.
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