Lamido threatens legal action if denied PDP chairmanship nomination form

Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa State, has threatened to take legal action against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if he is prevented from obtaining the nomination form to contest the party’s national chairmanship position.

Lamido, who on Monday declared his intention to run for the chairmanship, visited the PDP national secretariat in Abuja to purchase the nomination form but said he was left stranded after discovering that the relevant office was locked.

Speaking with journalists at the party headquarters, Lamido said he was surprised to find that the office of the national organising secretary, which is responsible for selling nomination forms, was inaccessible.

“I went to the office of the national organising secretary, which is normally where the forms are sold, and the office was locked,” he 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 later learnt 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 said.

The former governor described the situation as “unfortunate”, warning that the PDP should not be seen to be operating in secrecy or sidelining its members.

Responding to suggestions that some party governors had rejected his bid due to alleged links with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Lamido dismissed such claims as “divisive”.

“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 also criticised what he called a “growing disregard for internal party procedures”, warning that the PDP risks undermining its internal democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“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 constitution and procedures, how do we win elections?” he asked.