Former Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido, has threatened to sue the People’s Democratic Party for denying him a nomination form for National Chairman ahead of the November 15–16 convention in Ibadan.
Lamido told journalists in Abuja that he was frustrated after failing to buy the form at the PDP Secretariat. He alleged that the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the Organizing Secretary, Umaru Bature, were aware but couldn’t explain.
At its 102nd NEC meeting on August 25, the PDP zoned its 2027 ticket South and chairmanship North.
Later, Northern leaders micro-zoned the seat to the North-West and endorsed ex-Minister Tanimu Turaki (SAN) as the consensus candidate.
However, some Northern stakeholders loyal to Lamido rejected the endorsement, arguing that the party failed to consult them. Meanwhile, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike is reportedly backing former Benue Governor Samuel Ortom for the position.
Lamido, who arrived with his supporters at the party’s Wadata Plaza headquarters around 11 a.m., found most offices locked. He lamented that, though the committee moved its operations to Legacy House in Maitama, the nomination form remained unavailable.
“I came to the headquarters because that’s where the sales of forms normally take place according to the party constitution,” Lamido said. “I went to the National Organizing Secretary’s office, but I found it locked. Both he and the National Secretary said they had no idea where the forms were.”
Describing the incident as “strange and disappointing,” Lamido vowed to seek legal redress if he continued to be denied access. He accused some individuals of hijacking the party’s decision-making process, sidelining the National Executive Committee.
“The PDP should be able to run its affairs based on its constitution,” he said. “If I don’t get the nomination form, I will go to court. We can’t win elections unless the party stays disciplined and organized.”
Lamido said his ambition stemmed from a desire to rebuild the PDP into a strong, united party that can challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He rejected the consensus arrangement reached by Northern governors, insisting that no proper consultations took place.
“If there are consultations, there can be consensus. But I didn’t find any,” he added. “Our zone never met. Another group scheduled an earlier meeting to impose decisions, preempting the planned one.”
The PDP convention, expected to determine the party’s leadership ahead of the 2027 elections, continues to generate controversy as internal power struggles intensify.
