Ex Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido Traces PDP’s Crisis to Historical Divisions, Urges Unity Ahead of 2027 Elections
Alhaji Sule Lamido, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and two-term governor of Jigawa State, has traced the current crisis within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to historical divisions, particularly among northern leaders following the 2007 elections.
He made this known in a recent interview on Trust TV’s 30-Minute Programme, Lamido reflected on the PDP’s journey from its formation in 1998 and its subsequent challenges, offering insights into why the party is struggling today and the role of the current leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Lamido, who has remained with the PDP since its inception, acknowledged the party’s deep internal conflicts but argued that understanding its history is key to understanding its current state.
According to him, many of today’s younger politicians fail to appreciate the complexities and the foundational goals of the PDP, especially as the country moves toward the 2024 elections.
Reflecting on the formation of the PDP in 1998, Lamido pointed to Nigeria’s deep national crisis, largely exacerbated by the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
The annulment, which denied Chief Moshood Abiola his rightful victory, fractured the nation along ethnic and regional lines, Lamido said. “This rift was largely due to the annulment of June 12. Nigerians had finally united behind Abiola, a southerner, and his northern Muslim running mate, Baba Gana Kingibe. But the election was nullified, and this led to widespread distrust,” he explained.
The PDP was formed as a vehicle to heal the nation’s wounds and restore trust among its diverse people.
The party’s early efforts focused on unity rather than policy, with Lamido highlighting the symbolic gesture of offering the presidency to the South West to heal the wounds caused by the annulment. Olusegun Obasanjo, a former military leader, was chosen as the PDP’s candidate in 1999, despite objections from some Yoruba groups who felt his presidency did not prioritize regional interests.
Despite criticisms, Lamido stressed that Obasanjo’s presidency helped stabilize the country and set the stage for Nigeria’s economic recovery.
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However, as Obasanjo’s second term progressed, internal strife within the PDP began to surface, marking the beginning of the party’s eventual fragmentation.
Lamido pointed to the events of 2007 as a critical turning point in the party’s history. After the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the PDP struggled to maintain unity.
The political environment became increasingly polarized, and key figures within the PDP began defecting to the rival All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the PDP of corruption and mismanagement. “By 2014, the defections started in earnest.
The PDP, which once commanded a majority of states, saw a mass exodus of key members to the APC. This paved the way for the APC’s victory in the 2015 elections,” Lamido said.
He also noted that many influential figures in the APC today, including those in leadership positions in the National Assembly, were once prominent members of the PDP. “The APC is, in many ways, a product of the PDP’s internal conflicts. About 90% of its leadership today came from the PDP,” Lamido said.
Despite the party’s challenges, Lamido remains hopeful for a revival. He emphasized the need for PDP leaders to reconcile and refocus on the party’s original mission of national unity. “The PDP that governed Nigeria from 1999 to 2014 was the real PDP. The current PDP, from 2014 onwards, is not the party I remember. But I believe that if the leaders who left the party—some of whom criticized it—can return and work together, we can still offer a credible alternative to the APC,” Lamido said.
He pointed to figures like former President Obasanjo, who, despite distancing himself from the PDP, could play a role in the party’s revival. Lamido expressed belief that God could inspire reconciliation among former allies and bring the party back together before the next election. “It’s not impossible,” he added, “that with a renewed sense of dignity and responsibility, those who left the PDP can return and work to solve Nigeria’s problems.”
In his concluding remarks, Lamido also addressed the role of current political leaders, particularly in the APC, urging them to reflect on Nigeria’s history and work together for the nation’s future. “For the country to move forward, both sides must set aside their grievances and focus on what’s best for Nigeria. If this happens, then perhaps the PDP can stand strong once more.”
