A fresh legal crisis looms ahead of the November 15 national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a founding father of the party and former governor, Sule Lamido, has threatened to seek legal redress if the party fails to sell national chairmanship form to him.
Lamido, who made the threat after his failed attempt to secure the form at the party’s national secretariat yesterday, accused the convention committee of hijacking the process and declared: “If I don’t get the form, I’ll go to court. Simple.”
He dismissed claims that he was purchasing the form outside the stipulated period, adding that the committee had taken over the role of the party’s NEC.
Lamido hinted that the national chairmanship form had been made scarce to favour a consensus candidate.
Lamido’s threat of legal action could become a second suit that might derail the party’s November convention. So far, some state party chairmen are in court seeking to halt the exercise over issues surrounding some state congresses.
But loyalists of the consensus candidate and former minister, Tanimu Turaki, said it was absurd that Lamido was seeking to purchase forms while the party’s timetable indicated that yesterday was the date for submission of forms.
Leader of Turaki’s team, Umar Sani, who said they came to submit the consensus candidate’s form, added that Lamido went to the wrong place to buy the form because the stipulated date for such had passed.
Turaki’s adoption as the consensus national chairmanship candidate for the North by some Northern PDP leaders last week resulted in agitations from his North-West zone, where he hails from.
However, an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Observer Report seen by LEADERSHIP showed that the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) approved 8th–22nd September 2025 window for the sale of nomination forms for various elective positions in the November convention.
Meanwhile, the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) of the PDP has put on hold the screening of aspirants for the 2025 Elective National Convention, earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 28th October, 2025, due to unforeseen circumstances.
Chairman of the NCOC and governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, shortly after Lamido’s failed attempt to purchase the national chairmanship form, said a new date would be communicated once the screening date is fixed.
He added that the inconveniences caused by the postponement were regretted.
“The NCOC remains committed to delivering a credible, hitch-free 2025 elective national convention on Saturday 15th to Sunday 16th November, 2025, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital,” the governor said in a statement.
Lamido’s Ordeal
Narrating his ordeal while trying to pick up the form, Lamido said: “I came here to pursue my own form. That’s why I’m here. I went to the office of the National Organising Secretary, which is normally the office where the forms are sold, and the office was locked.
“I think it was officially locked, you know, because of his own position. So, I met him with the secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu. I said, ‘Look, I’m here to buy the form.’ Both of them said they had no idea where the forms are, not even how they were printed or the kind of forms they are. They had no idea where they were being sold. So, I found it a little bit weird that the custodian of the system, who is the National Organising Secretary, is also being locked out – because I’m coming in. So, they may not be able to go into the office.”
He continued: “I went to the secretary of the party, and the two of them were there. They said, ‘Look, we have no idea what is happening about the party nomination, sale of forms, or even how they are printed, or the kind of forms.’ So, I’m now stranded.”
When asked if he had reached members of the National Organising Committee over the date of events, he said: “What they did in terms of the announcement, I have no idea. I’ve never heard of it.
“By tradition, I should know where the forms are sold. That’s why I came here (Wadata Plaza). So, if they are being sold somewhere else, then I’ll find out where, because they are now under the chairmanship of the National Convention Organising Committee. So, Fintiri is now holding the forms. So, I have to go to Adamawa and buy the form.”
He insisted that the time to pick up forms had been extended.
“In any case, all decisions of the party must be made by the National Executive Committee (NEC). Any change of date or time must be approved by the NEC. But somehow, I think the entire function of the NEC has been taken over by individuals. And therefore, we’ll find out how it’s going to work out.”
With regard to the screening of candidates scheduled for yesterday, Lamido questioned the rush to finalise the process, adding that he was unable to purchase the form because he was told they are now under the control of the governor of Adamawa.
On the perception that he was not picked as consensus candidate because of his recent identification with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Lamido said the governors met him in the PDP.
“Where were they in 1998? Where were they when we fought for the party all through the last 25 years? Where were they? So, as I say to you, don’t bring up issues that are very, very divisive. I don’t want to lose my composure.”
Lamido further stated that for the PDP to win in 2027, it needs to be able to organise its own house and run based on the policies of the party while doing the right thing at all times.
“The only way we can win is by having a party that is disciplined. If the party is not organised, if we don’t follow our own constitution and procedures, how do we win elections?” he asked.
On Turaki’s consensus candidacy, Lamido said there could not be such a thing without consultations, adding that leaders from the North-West region did not meet to endorse the candidate.
“We were supposed to meet on Wednesday, and I think the governor of Zamfara booked the hall at Hilton, right? For us from the North-West to meet to be able to come out with that kind of understanding.
“But then, to pre-empt our meeting, they fixed a meeting for Tuesday, to pre-empt our own meeting on Wednesday. So, we never met. The zone never met. That’s the problem. But it’s not the last one.”
Turaki Submits Form, Loyalist Dismisses Lamido’s Concern
The leader of the Turaki team, Umar Sani, said they came to the party’s annex headquarters, where the convention committee operates, to submit the completed expression of interest forms.
“Today being the 27th October, 2025, is the final day for the submission of nomination forms, and Kabiru Tanimu Turaki has fulfilled all righteousness and has duly submitted the nomination forms and all other forms that I have mentioned. “These forms have been duly acknowledged—a copy of which is here for you to see.”
On Lamido’s claim, Sani said: “First, let me say this: today is not a day for selling forms; today is a day for submission of forms. So, if Sule Lamido went to Wadata Plaza looking for forms, he went to the wrong place, because the party has stipulated which day you are supposed to go and buy forms and which day you are supposed to submit forms. We have just submitted ours.
“If they don’t have it at Wadata, we have no business with that. Our own business is that we have prepared the form, followed due process, and submitted it.
“Now, if Wadata cannot explain, that is the responsibility of the PDP to explain to you. It is not our responsibility. Ours is to contest, and we are contesting.”
He said the party had the powers, as provided by the latest judgement of the Supreme Court, to decide how it wants to run its internal affairs, adding that how they got the form for Turaki is United immaterial.
On Turaki’s consensus candidacy, Sani, who admitted the controversy over the endorsement, said the needed consultation was done.
“As a student of history, I’m sure you are aware of how the PDP has been handling its own affairs right from the time of Solomon Lar to date. I was the first Administrative Secretary of the PDP in Kaduna State in 1998, on the 6th of September, and I will let you know that apart from Solomon Lar, whom the G34 nominated to serve for only one year to put the party on a sound footing, all other party chairmen were products of either the president or the governors.
“Gemade was the product of Obasanjo. Audu Ogbeh was the product of Obasanjo. Amodu Ali was the product of Obasanjo. Ogbulafor Vincent was Yar’Adua’s choice. The next person, Bamanga Tukur, was chosen by Jonathan. Adamu Mu’azu was also chosen by Jonathan.
“When Adamu Mu’azu resigned, we all know that Wike and Fayose brought Ali Modu Sheriff. After Sheriff, it was in Port Harcourt—I was there—when Babangida Aliu, who was not even from our zone, nominated Makarfi, and he was made Caretaker Committee chair. After that, Uche Secondus was brought by Wike, and Iyorchia Ayu was brought by Samuel Ortom and Wike.
So, the governors have always had an interest in the party. It is not about meeting in the North-West or wherever. The chief officer stakeholder—the number one stakeholder—who is the Governor of Zamfara State, has aligned himself with the choice, which is very important.”
He said consultations had been duly done because there was a meeting.
“It was not something that was announced. It was a meeting held with all the relevant stakeholders in all the states in the North, adequately represented.
“The governor of Zamfara State was there, the governor of Adamawa State, Fintiri, was there. I’m sure most of you know of the meeting, so I don’t have to even spoon-feed you with the information. The governor of Taraba, who was not there, was represented by a senator.
“So, they were all there, and the candidates were all there. They were asked to go and reconcile themselves. Why is Shekarau not arguing? He was also a contestant. They were asked to reconcile among themselves, and they came back and said they had left the choice to the governors—anybody they chose, they were okay with it.
The governors then held a brief meeting and came back to announce Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as the consensus candidate, and nobody who was there raised any objection.
“So, why is it that it’s after the meeting that people are going around shouting? I think that is very unfair to Kabiru Tanimu Turaki. He didn’t choose himself.”
He, however, said Turaki was not afraid of having other contestants.
