Former Jigawa State Governor and PDP chieftain, Sule Lamido, has threatened legal action against the party if he is denied access to purchase nomination forms ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party’s national convention scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, Lamido said his attempts to obtain the PDP National Chairman nomination form were unsuccessful. He implicated both the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, in the issue.
During its 102nd National Executive Committee meeting on August 25 in Abuja, the PDP zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South and reserved the position of National Chairman for the North. Northern leaders later “micro-zoned” the chairmanship to the North-West, resulting in the endorsement of former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as the consensus candidate.
Lamido and other Northern stakeholders, reportedly loyal to him, expressed dissatisfaction with the process, claiming they were not consulted. Separately, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike is said to be backing his ally, former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, for the same position.
Lamido arrived at the PDP National Headquarters at Wadata Plaza around 11 a.m. with supporters but found offices locked and was unable to purchase the nomination forms. Although the National Convention Organising Committee, chaired by Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, operates from the annex office at Legacy House in Maitama, Lamido insisted that forms should have been available at Wadata Plaza.
He said, “PDP is a family of wonderful Nigerians who share a commitment to democracy. Coming here is like coming home. By party constitution, sales of forms are normally at the headquarters, so I came to purchase mine.”
Lamido described the locked offices as “weird” and said officials he met had no knowledge of the forms’ location or distribution. He acknowledged that the process is now managed by the Convention Committee and said he might have to go to Adamawa to obtain the form.
He added, “The closing date for sales of forms has been extended. Any change must be approved by the NEC, but it seems the NEC’s role has been taken over by individuals. I am an optimist. This is a family thing. If I don’t get the form, I will go to court. The PDP must organise its house and follow its constitution to win elections.”
Lamido emphasized that his goal is to rebuild PDP into a stable and united party focused on defeating the APC. He rejected the governors’ consensus arrangement, saying it was reached without consultation.
He explained, “If there are consultations, there can be consensus. But there were no consultations. Our zone never met. The Governor of Zamfara booked a hall for our Northwest meeting on Wednesday, but they preempted it with a Tuesday meeting. That’s the problem.”
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