•Sule Lamido
Former Jigawa State Governor and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, says the party may be forced into alliances if ongoing efforts to resolve its internal crisis fail.
Lamido gave the warning while receiving Jigawa State PDP stakeholders and party leaders at his Kano office, where he stressed the need for urgent reconciliation to save the party from further decline, reports Daily Trust.
He recalled that he had earlier asked party members to exercise patience until December 9, pending a decision on the fate of the PDP’s acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.
According to him, the ultimatum was part of wider consultations aimed at restoring stability within the party.
Lamido disclosed that he had held talks with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki, during which strategies were drawn up to engage PDP governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in reconciliation efforts.
He said some of the meetings were hosted at Saraki’s residence.
“We have consulted all of them and asked for cooperation. We are going to sit again. Don’t worry, you are going to vote. There is still no party like the PDP. We should not allow our personal ego to destroy it,” Lamido said.
He warned that failure to achieve reconciliation would leave the party with no option but to explore alliances not coalitions, a move he said could significantly reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.
“If reconciliation fails, alliances not coalition will become inevitable. You know there is a difference between alliance and coalition. If you want to make a name in Nigeria, you should join the PDP,” he added.
The former governor lamented the PDP’s declining fortunes in Kano State, noting that the party secured only about 15,000 votes in the last general elections.
He also criticised the defection of the party’s former vice-presidential candidate to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a setback.
According to him, internal rivalry within the PDP has largely benefited the APC, alleging that political alignments in the South-West have favoured the ruling party due to tribal sentiments.
Earlier, the Jigawa State Chairman of the PDP, Dr Babandi Ibrahim, said the meeting was a follow-up to previous engagements focused on resolving the party’s lingering leadership crisis.
“This meeting is a follow-up to our earlier sittings, especially regarding resolutions submitted by stakeholders on the fate of the party,” Babandi said.
He admitted that the party was in a state of uncertainty, noting that Lamido had earlier appealed for patience while efforts were being made to address the leadership impasse.
“You asked us to come and we are here. As far as we are concerned, the party is in limbo. Up till this moment, Damagum and Anyanwu remain on the INEC platform as the recognised leaders of the party. We are here today before you, sir,” he said.
