Lamido threatens to sue PDP over denial of nomination form

Sule Lamido

Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has threatened to take legal action against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for allegedly preventing him from purchasing the nomination form for the party’s forthcoming national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Lamido, who is contesting for the position of PDP National Chairman, expressed his frustration on Monday in Abuja after he was unable to obtain the form at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza.

He accused the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, of feigning ignorance about the whereabouts of the nomination forms despite being aware of the situation.

The controversy comes amid internal divisions over the chairmanship race, following the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of August 25, which zoned the 2027 presidential ticket to the South and the chairmanship position to the North. The northern leaders later micro-zoned the seat to the North-West.

Over the weekend, northern PDP governors, led by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, endorsed former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as the consensus candidate for National Chairman. However, Lamido’s supporters, led by Umar Bature, rejected the endorsement, insisting they were not consulted.

In a separate twist, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is reportedly backing former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, for the same position.

Lamido, who arrived at the PDP secretariat at about 11 a.m. with his supporters, said he was shocked to find most offices locked and no officials available to attend to him.

“I came here to purchase my form because, by the party’s constitution, sales of forms are normally done at the headquarters,” he said.

“I went to the office of the National Organising Secretary, and it was locked. Both he and the National Secretary said they had no idea where the forms were being sold.”

Describing the situation as “strange” and “unprecedented,” Lamido said it was unacceptable for such a crucial process to be shrouded in secrecy, warning that he might take legal steps if the issue is not resolved.