ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, has vowed to take legal action against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if he is denied access to purchase the nomination form to contest for the party’s national chairmanship position.
Lamido, who formally declared his intention to run on Monday, October 27, 2025, said he was left stranded after visiting the PDP national secretariat in Abuja to obtain the form.
According to him, the office of the national organising secretary — responsible for selling nomination forms — was locked.
Speaking with journalists at the PDP headquarters, Lamido expressed shock that both Umar Bature, the national organising secretary, and Samuel Anyanwu, the national secretary, claimed ignorance of the sale of forms.
“I went to the office of the national organising secretary, which is normally where the forms are sold, and the office was locked,” Lamido said.
“I met him with the secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and both of them said they had no idea where the forms were or even how they were printed. So, I found it a little weird that the custodian of the system is also being locked out.”
Lamido said he was later informed that the nomination forms were under the control of Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa State and chairman of the party’s National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC).
“So, for me to buy the form, I have to go to Adamawa? If I don’t get the form, I’ll go to court. Simple,” he declared.
The former governor described the situation as “unfortunate” and criticised what he called a lack of transparency within the party.
He insisted that the PDP must not operate in secrecy or alienate its long-standing members.
Responding to claims that some governors had rejected his candidacy over alleged links with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Lamido dismissed the insinuations.
“Where were they when we fought for the party all through the last 25 years? Don’t bring up divisive issues. I don’t want to lose my composure. They met me in the PDP — all of them,” he said.
Lamido warned that the “growing disregard for internal party procedures” could undermine the PDP’s internal democracy and weaken its chances in the 2027 general election.
“The PDP should be able to organise its own house. The only way we can win is by having a disciplined party. If we don’t follow our constitution and procedures, how do we win elections?” he asked.
The forthcoming PDP national convention has been overshadowed by litigation and controversy surrounding the alleged adoption of a “consensus candidate” for the chairmanship position.
Northern PDP stakeholders recently endorsed Kabiru Turaki, a former minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs, as their consensus candidate at a meeting in Abuja.
The meeting was attended by Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, and Umar Damagum, the PDP acting national chairman.
Also present were prominent party leaders including Bukola Saraki, Jerry Gana, Abba Moro, and Ibrahim Shekarau.
Although the position of national chairman was micro-zoned to the North-West, some PDP stakeholders from the zone have rejected Turaki’s endorsement, arguing that they were excluded from the decision-making meeting.
The dissenting group noted that the earlier meeting scheduled to discuss the matter had been postponed and insisted that the “consensus” declaration was invalid.
Meanwhile, a suit seeking to halt the PDP convention is slated for hearing on Friday, October 31, 2025.
