Former Jigawa State Governor and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, has warned that the party may be forced into alliances if efforts to resolve its internal crisis fail.
Lamido gave the cautionary note on Monday while receiving Jigawa State PDP stakeholders and party leaders at his Kano office, stressing the urgent need for reconciliation to salvage the party from further decline.
He recalled that he had previously urged 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 Lamido, the ultimatum was part of broader consultations aimed at restoring stability within the party.
The former governor disclosed that he had held discussions with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki, during which strategies were developed to engage PDP governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in reconciliation efforts. Some of the meetings were reportedly 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 PDP 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.
Lamido lamented the party’s declining fortunes in Kano State, noting that it 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 major 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 considerations.
Earlier, the Jigawa State PDP Chairman, Dr. Babandi Ibrahim, said the meeting was a follow-up to previous engagements aimed at 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 added that the party remains in a state of uncertainty, with Damagum and Anyanwu still recognised on the INEC platform as the party’s leaders.
“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.
