PDP chairmanship: I’m being shut out – Sule Lamido

The crisis threatening to derail preparations for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention deepened on Monday as former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, vowed to take legal action following his failed attempt to obtain the nomination form for the position of national chairman.

Lamido’s outburst came amid growing discontent within the opposition party over the endorsement of former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as consensus candidate for the chairmanship ahead of the convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Before Lamido’s saga, some legal hurdles have been threatening the convention. A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 30 to deliver judgement in a suit seeking to halt the convention. The case, filed by some state party chairmen believed to be loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, an outspoken critic of the convention plan, has become a major test for the party’s unity and readiness for transition.

In addition, an alleged forgery petition filed with security agencies by the party’s embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, another Wike ally, has added to the tension. Anyanwu said that his signature was forged on correspondence submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) notifying it of the convention. The party’s National Working Committee and Board of Trustees have denied the claim, insisting that Anyanwu voluntarily signed the documents. However, the outcome of the ongoing security investigation could still shape the fate of the convention.

The development has widened divisions among PDP power blocs, particularly between the camp loyal to Wike and those aligned with northern governors who pushed for Turaki’s emergence.

Speaking to journalists after being unable to purchase his nomination form at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Lamido described the process as “manipulated” and warned that he would not hesitate to seek redress in court.

“I believe in consensus, but there must be consultations. If there are no consultations, then we are not united on board,” Lamido said.

“The zone I came from, the North West, never met. We were supposed to meet on Wednesday (last week), the Zamfara governor even booked the hall at Hilton for us; but they fixed another meeting for Tuesday to pre-empt ours. So, we never met. That’s the problem,” he said.

The former foreign affairs minister said he visited the Wadata Plaza, the traditional venue for the sale of nomination forms, but found the office of the National Organising Secretary locked.

“I met him and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and both said they had no idea where the forms were or how they were being sold. I found it strange that the custodian of the process was being locked out,” Lamido said.

He also expressed frustration that the forms were reportedly in the custody of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, who chairs the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC).

“So, I have to go to Adamawa to buy the form? If I don’t get the form, I’ll go to court. Simple,” he declared.

Despite his threat, Lamido maintained that the party’s crisis remained an internal issue.

“It’s a family problem. We’ll never fight because we want to win elections. Our opponents are outside, the APC. If we don’t have an organised house, how do we fight them?” he said.

We won’t let anyone derail our progress – PDP

But the party’s leadership has dismissed Lamido’s threats of litigation, insisting it will not allow “disgruntled elements” to derail preparations for its November national convention in Ibadan.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ibrahim Abdullahi, told Daily Trust that the PDP was determined to stay focused on its recovery process despite distractions.

“We are focused on moving forward and will not allow anyone or group to derail our progress,” Abdullahi said.

At the last NEC meeting, the date for the sale and submission of forms was announced. The deadline for submission was October 22. Anyone coming after that is simply engaging in drama.”

He accused unnamed party members of seeking to destabilise the PDP for “external interests,” warning journalists not to “amplify the nonsense.”

“The northern leaders have taken a decision. Why is this one different? Let him (Lamido) go to court,” he said.

“If people are working for the APC or whoever their paymasters are, it’s enough. Let this PDP have a breather,” he added.

Abdullahi maintained that the process leading to the selection of Turaki as consensus chairmanship candidate followed the PDP’s historical pattern of leadership decisions being driven by governors and senior stakeholders.

“In the past, one person used to singlehandedly nominate chairmen. This time, four northern governors and several other party leaders came together to agree on one candidate. For those who have used this same system to their advantage in the past to now reject it, that’s hypocrisy,” he said.

He added that Lamido’s decision to appear at Wadata Plaza, instead of the Legacy House where the forms were officially being issued, was a mere publicity stunt.

“Nobody goes to the national secretariat to buy forms. That was just for media drama,” he said.