Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has strongly dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held in Ibadan on Saturday, November 16, 2025, labeling it an illegal gathering with no legal standing.
Court Injunction Renders Convention Invalid
Speaking in an interview on ARISE News, Lamido revealed that he had secured a valid court injunction on Friday afternoon, which was officially served on both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP leadership. He insisted that this legal order explicitly restricted the party from proceeding with the convention.
"A convention is defined by our laws, regulations, and party constitution," Lamido stated. "Since a court order was issued to stop it, there cannot be a lawful convention. Anyone who claims it is a convention can be sued for contempt of court."
He emphasized that his injunction, obtained at 3 PM on Friday, was the most recent and legally binding, superseding any other interpretations of court rulings that party officials might cite. "The order has been served on INEC and the PDP. They are fully aware. Therefore, if they proceed, they risk contempt charges," he asserted.
Clash with Bode George and Party Philosophy
Lamido also responded to criticisms from PDP chieftain Chief Bode George, who had accused him of misunderstanding the party's nomination procedures. Lamido dismissed George's comments, describing his presentation as entertaining but lacking in substance.
"He is a military man. He has no idea how the PDP was formed in 1998, the philosophy behind it, or the dream we had," Lamido said. "He was brought on board by Obasanjo and has not completed the full metamorphosis from a military man to a civilian. He is still a 'paracivilian.'"
He further accused George of being the political leader of a group that has been suspended from the party for rebellion. "That suspended group was led by Bode George. He was the elder who led them into rebellion against the party," Lamido claimed.
PDP's Deepening Crisis and Loss of Public Confidence
Lamido expressed deep concern over the party's internal crisis, revealing that he had spent the last two years trying to prevent its collapse through numerous meetings and pleas. He lamented that many current governors, parliamentarians, and leaders seem indifferent to the party's fate.
"What is the purpose of having a party if not to win elections?" he questioned. "Today, the PDP has weakened itself to the point where people have lost confidence. If we cannot organize ourselves, how can we go out and fight the ruling APC?"
He concluded by firmly stating that the Ibadan gathering was nothing more than a social event. "The meeting in Ibadan is simply a gathering of friends for entertainment. It has no legal standing, and anything done there is null and void," Lamido declared.
