The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new turn ahead of its national convention, as former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, vowed to drag the party to court after being denied access to the nomination form for the position of National Chairman.
Naija News reports that the controversy erupted following the party’s adoption of former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as a consensus candidate for the top seat in the convention slated for November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Speaking to journalists at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja on Monday, Lamido described the process as manipulated, opaque, and unfair, saying it lacked the transparency expected in a democratic party.
“I believe in consensus, but there must be consultations. If there are no consultations, then we are not united on board,” Lamido said.
The former Foreign Affairs Minister lamented that his North-West zone was completely sidelined in the selection process.
“The zone I came from, the North-West, never met. We were supposed to meet on Wednesday last week. The Zamfara governor even booked the hall at Hilton for us, but they fixed another meeting for Tuesday to pre-empt ours. So, we never met. That’s the problem,” he revealed.
Lamido also recounted how he went to Wadata Plaza, the PDP national headquarters, to purchase his form, only to find the office of the National Organising Secretary locked.
“I met the Organising Secretary and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and both said they had no idea where the forms were or how they were being sold. I found it strange that the custodian of the process was being locked out,” he said.
He accused Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, who chairs the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC), of allegedly withholding the nomination forms.
“So, I have to go to Adamawa to buy the form? If I don’t get the form, I’ll go to court. Simple,” Lamido declared.
Despite threatening legal action, Lamido maintained that the issue remains a “family affair”, emphasizing the need for internal reconciliation to ensure the party’s success in future elections.
“It’s a family problem. We’ll never fight because we want to win elections. Our opponents are outside — the APC. If we don’t have an organised house, how do we fight them?” he concluded.
