Lamido says he felt ‘like crying’ after suing PDP

Sule Lamido, former Jigawa State Governor, has expressed sadness over his decision to sue the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Federal High Court in Abuja following his exclusion from the party’s forthcoming 2025 national convention.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday after the court restrained the PDP from holding the convention scheduled for 15 and 16 November in Ibadan, Lamido said he felt “like crying” for being forced to take legal action against the party he helped build.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim order stopping the PDP from proceeding with the convention pending the hearing and determination of Lamido’s substantive suit.

The judge also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring, supervising, or recognising the event, ruling that Lamido’s application was “meritorious and succeeded.”

Lamido, who governed Jigawa State from 2007 to 2015 under the PDP, reflected on his long-standing relationship with the party, recalling his roles as both a founding member and former Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“In this case, if my party lost, I also lose. I feel like crying, taking this path. When we fight as brothers, the trust is lost, the bond of brotherhood is also lost,” he said.

He explained that he resorted to court action after being denied the opportunity to purchase the PDP national chairmanship nomination form despite being a bona fide member of the party.

Lamido, a member of the G-34 group that evolved into the PDP in 1998, visited the party’s national secretariat on 27 October to obtain the form but said he was not attended to because the relevant officials were unavailable.

A few days earlier, some PDP leaders from the North, where Lamido hails from, had endorsed former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki (SAN) from Kebbi State, as their consensus candidate for the national chairmanship position — a decision Lamido claimed he was unaware of.

There were reports that the former governor was denied access to the form due to his alleged support for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“Yes, I support the coming together of the opposition under the ADC, but let it be known I will never leave the PDP. I built this house with my sweat and soul. My role now is to offer guidance and ensure Nigeria finds her way back,” he said in an earlier interview.