Former Jigawa State Governor and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Sule Lamido, has threatened to take legal action against the party after he was allegedly prevented from purchasing the nomination form to contest for the position of national chairman.
Lamido, who visited the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, on Monday morning, said he was denied access to the form a situation he described as “unacceptable and undemocratic.”
“I came here to buy the form for the chairmanship position, but I was denied. This is not the democracy our party stands for,” Lamido said. “If this continues, I will have no choice but to approach the court for justice.”
According to him, the office of the National Organising Secretary, where the forms are usually sold, was locked. He claimed that both the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, denied knowledge of the form’s whereabouts.
Lamido added that he was later told the documents were now being handled by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who also serves as the Chairman of the PDP National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC).
“So, for me to buy the form, I have to travel to Adamawa? If I don’t get the form, I’ll go to court. Simple,” he declared.
Lamido, who had earlier announced his ambition on his verified Facebook page, expressed disappointment over what he described as a lack of transparency in the process. He warned that the party must not operate in secrecy or sideline its founding members.
Dismissing claims that some PDP governors rejected his ambition due to alleged links with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Lamido insisted that his loyalty to the PDP had never been in question.
“Where were they when we fought for this party all through the last 25 years? Don’t bring up divisive issues. They all met me in the PDP,” he said.
He further cautioned that the party risks weakening its internal democracy if such practices persist, urging the PDP to remain disciplined and uphold its constitution.
“The PDP should be able to organise its own house. The only way we can win is by having a party that is disciplined. If we don’t follow our procedures, how do we win elections?” he asked.
The PDP’s forthcoming national convention, scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan, has been overshadowed by internal disputes and litigation.
Northern PDP stakeholders recently endorsed former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki, as their consensus candidate for the chairmanship position. The endorsement — reportedly reached at a meeting attended by Bala Mohammed, Caleb Mutfwang, Ahmadu Fintiri, Dauda Lawal, and acting national chairman Umar Damagum has drawn criticism from party members who claimed they were excluded from the process.
Although the chairmanship position has been micro-zoned to the North-West, several stakeholders from the zone have rejected the consensus arrangement and are calling for a fair contest.
The suit seeking to stop the PDP convention is scheduled for hearing on October 31.
