Amid a deepening internal crisis, former Jigawa State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has declared his readiness to form an alliance with an alternative political platform. This move comes as a direct response to loyalists within his state chapter openly rejecting the party's current direction and seeking an exit.
Loyalists Demand Exit From a Party in 'Limbo'
The political tension reached a peak when hundreds of PDP faithful, led by the Jigawa State Party Chairman, Hon. Babandi Ibrahim, visited Lamido's political office in Kano. They expressed deep frustration over the leadership tussle at the national level, which they blamed for a wave of defections crippling the party's structure.
Ibrahim stated plainly that the party was in a state of uncertainty, pointing out that Umar Damagum and Samuel Anyanwu were still listed 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," Ibrahim told Lamido, urging the former governor to lead them to a more promising political future.
Lamido's Ultimatum: Reconciliation or Alliance
In his reaction, Lamido appealed for calm but confirmed the dire state of the PDP nationally. He admitted the party was near collapse across all 36 states except Jigawa, where his influence has kept it afloat. However, he outlined a final attempt at salvage.
Lamido disclosed that he had consulted with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki. Together, they strategized to engage PDP governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. A crucial reconciliation meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday in Abuja.
He issued a clear warning: if the Wednesday meeting fails to yield positive results, he will not hesitate to pursue an alliance with an alternative party. "I want to appeal to you party loyalists to exercise patience... There is still no party like the PDP. We should not allow our personal ego to destroy it," Lamido stated, while simultaneously preparing a contingency plan.
Distinguishing Alliance from Coalition
Importantly, Lamido drew a sharp distinction between an alliance and a coalition, ruling out the latter. "If reconciliation fails, alliances, not coalition, will become inevitable. You know there is a difference between alliance and coalition," he explained. This strategic move, he warned, could significantly reshape Nigeria's political landscape.
He also lamented the party's drastic decline in Kano State, where it secured only about 15,000 votes in the last general elections. He criticized the defection of the PDP's former vice-presidential candidate to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a major setback, alleging that internal rivalry within the PDP has primarily benefited the APC.
Earlier, Lamido had also criticized President Bola Tinubu's decision to take a two-week vacation to the UK, labeling it as insensitive to the current hardships faced by Nigerians.
