Convention: PDP’s woes continue as Lamido battles party over chairmanship position

…Party not likely to present presidential candidate in 2027 -Analyst

Just when it appeared major leaders of the Nigeria’s main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had decided to close ranks to move the party forward, fresh cracks have emerged ahead of its national convention as former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido has dragged the party to the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Lamido is seeking an order to stop the convention of the party for allegedly denying him access to the nomination and expression of interest forms for the national chairmanship position.

The convention is billed to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, between November 15 and 16 for the purpose of electing national officers that will run the affairs of the PDP.

The leadership crisis has polarised the party since the run-up to the 2023 poll, dividing it into camps. In recent months, there has been a mass defection of members and governors elected on its platform to the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Last week, Lamido, who had gone to the PDP national secretariat in Abuja to purchase the forms, expressed frustration that no official could account for the whereabouts of the documents or clarify the process for obtaining them.

“If I am not able to get the form, I will go to court, simply,” the visibly angry Lamido told journalists after visiting the offices of key party officials at the Wadata head office of the umbrella association.

The development comes amid growing discontent among party chieftains over allegations of poor coordination and lack of transparency by the national convention organising committee (NCOC).

Lamido accused the party leadership of sidelining aspirants and breaching internal democratic norms, warning that such disorganisation could further weaken the PDP’s unity and public image.

He said he was surprised that the national organising secretary, Umar Bature, and the national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, both present during his visit, denied knowledge of who was handling the sale of forms or how many were printed for distribution.

“I’m not aware of this arrangement. Traditionally, forms are sold at the secretariat. If they are now being sold elsewhere, I’ll have to find out where,” Lamido said, adding with a tone of sarcasm, “So, Fintiri is now holding the forms; I have to go to Adamawa to buy the form?”

The former governor also dismissed reports that a consensus candidate, Kabiru Turaki, had been endorsed for the chairmanship position, insisting that no such agreement was reached by the North-West stakeholders.

“Consensus comes from consultation. But our zone never met. There was supposed to be a meeting last Wednesday at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, but it never held. So where is the consensus coming from?” he queried.

Lamido cautioned that the PDP risked deeper internal crises if the leadership continued to ignore due process and alienate committed members.

“PDP must put its house in order if it wants to win future elections. If the party is not organised or disciplined, how do we expect Nigerians to trust us with power again?” he warned.

Read also: PDP suspends Anyanwu, three others

Meanwhile, confusion deepened as both the national organising secretary and the national secretary maintained that they were unaware of the process for selling the convention forms, despite being responsible for such administrative matters.

The unfolding controversy has sparked fresh concerns among party loyalists that the PDP may once again be heading toward another internal showdown capable of derailing preparations for the November convention and undermining efforts at party reconciliation.

Lamido, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, approached the high court praying for an order to stop the convention on the ground that he was aggrieved with the way the convention is being planned.

In his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CD/2229/2025 and filed by Jephthah Chikodi Njikonye, SAN, on his behalf, the former governor of Jigawa is also asking the court to prohibit the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, aiding or monitoring the convention so as not to accord it any legal backing.

The main grouse of Lamido was that he was unlawfully and illegally denied nomination form for the purpose of his bid to contest for the office of the national chairman of the party at the Ibadan convention.

Among others, he alleged that PDP failed to adhere strictly to the provisions of its own Constitution and guidelines in the ways the convention is being put together.

Specifically, the plaintiff claimed that the party did not create equal opportunities for eligible members, including himself, to contest election during the convention.

He prayed for a mandatory order of injunction compelling the party to make a form for national chairman nomination available to him.

Lamido also sought an order prohibiting INEC from supervising, aiding or recognizing the conduct of any convention until he has been permitted to contest at the convention.

The current disagreement within the PDP ahead of the planned national convention has continued to generate reactions from political watchers.

Speaking to BusinessDaySubday, Kunle Okunade, political analyst, wondered why the party leadership would not allow a level-playing-field for all the chairmanship aspirants in line with the PDP’s constitution even when there is a candidate they support.

Okunade noted that the PDP’s leadership should have learned from the current imposition which emanated from disagreement over zoning arrangement of the 2023 presidential ticket, stressing that with the spate of defections from the party, it may not be strong enough to present a presidential candidate in 2027.

According to him, it is surprising to me that someone like Lamido wants to buy the national chairmanship form and they are turning it into a fiasco and hiding it. Why do that? Why not allow him to buy and you people vote for who you want.

“The leaders are just courting unnecessary crises, the party is already fragmented and I see more governors defecting and if that happens who would be left?

“The ultimate is that the party may not be able to present a presidential candidate that can compete with the APC.”

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the party, Olabode George has warned Lamido against suing the party over his inability to purchase the party’s national chairmanship nomination forms.

George pointed out that Lamido would be punished if he drags the PDP to court.

George said the PDP should allow all interested candidates to compete for the position.

He said some members of the party reserve the right to back any candidate of their choice.

According to him, “You want to make the process seamless and non-combative. We’ve done this before, but the party has never told anyone they cannot contest. Governor Sule Lamido has the right to compete.

“He can get the form, fill it, and appear on the convention day. We will vote. That is the practice in our party.

“This party is not owned by any individual. Before taking the party to court, you must exhaust the internal dynamics of the party. If you fail to do that, you can be punished.

“So, he is exercising his rights. But if he goes to court for this, he can be punished. Let him go, nobody will deny him any form, and he can compete.

“The final decision will be by delegates attending the convention, and it will be done openly.”