The national leadership of Nigeria’s opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on former Jigawa State governor Alhaji Sule Lamido to “sheathe his sword” and back ongoing efforts to stabilise the party.
The appeal comes after Lamido, in a recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service, criticised the party’s handling of its leadership crisis and referenced a court case he filed over the matter.
Addressing the controversy, Umar Sani, a close associate of PDP National Chairman Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), dismissed several claims made by Lamido as inaccurate. According to Sani, no court barred the PDP from holding its national convention. Instead, the courts only instructed the party to allow Lamido to participate after proper verification—an order the PDP had already appealed at the Supreme Court.
Sani added that another court in Ibadan explicitly authorised the party to conduct its convention, which successfully produced new national officers. This, he said, contradicts Lamido’s assertion that the party currently lacks legitimate leadership.
He urged the former governor to prioritise party unity over personal grievances, stating, “Sule Lamido is a founding figure in the PDP. At this critical moment, what the party needs is cohesion, not prolonged litigation. If we remain trapped in court battles, victory will continue to elude us.”
The PDP leadership also encouraged Lamido to collaborate closely with Chairman Turaki, emphasising that their long-standing cordial relationship could help steer the party away from internal conflicts.
This call for unity comes as the PDP continues to grapple with internal disputes and public criticism over its handling of recent electoral and administrative challenges.
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