Former Jigawa State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has declared former president, Goodluck Jonathan, as the opposition party’s strongest contender for the 2027 presidential election, urging the PDP leadership to actively woo him back to the party.
Lamido, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today yesterday, described Jonathan as the most qualified and electable candidate the PDP could present, arguing that no current party member from the South could match his credentials.
The former governor made a passionate case for Jonathan’s return, stating, “I think for PDP now they should try and woo him; he is their best bet. To me, he is their best bet. Anybody put forth by the PDP, Nigerians will support him.”
He emphasised Jonathan’s unique advantages, including his presidential experience, governance expertise, and ability to build consensus.
“He is most welcome, competent and very qualified. To me, I welcome him into the PDP. I think so far in the PDP, with all respect to all members, I don’t see a better alternative than Jonathan if he comes to the PDP,” he stated.
When asked about potential alternatives from the South, Lamido was categorical, “I don’t see any other person, really. If we are giving the presidency to the South, it will be the PDP.
“Who is there in PDP now that can challenge Jonathan in terms of being in office, being full-headed, being somebody who is willing to listen, and somebody who is also a key player who believes in partnership?”
Lamido also called for the immediate expulsion of key party members, including Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, ex-Benue governor Samuel Ortom and former Abia governor Okezie Ikpeazu, for allegedly sabotaging the party during the 2023 general elections.
Lamido, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, accused the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) of failing to discipline members who openly worked against the party’s interests.
The former governor insisted that the PDP must take decisive action against those who campaigned against its candidates and are now pledging support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of 2027.
“All those erring members, the Wikes, the Ortoms, the Ikpeazus and others who openly campaigned against the PDP in the 2023 elections and who said that they are going to work for APC in 2027 should be sacked from the party,” Lamido said.
He expressed frustration with what he described as a culture of impunity within the PDP, where members undermine the party without consequences.
Lamido traced the crisis to the aftermath of the party’s 2022 presidential primaries, where aggrieved members allegedly turned against the PDP after failing to secure their personal interests.
“From way back after the primaries of 2022 leading to the elections of 2023, there are people who, because of their own interest and ambition, felt aggrieved about what transpired in the party’s convention.
“They turned out against the party and fought the party. We have been having this kind of problem, the impunity of people castrating the party and denouncing it,” he said.
The former governor criticised the PDP leadership for failing to enforce its constitution, which prescribes sanctions for anti-party activities.
“In the constitution, if you breach the party’s code, you are sanctioned. But somehow, going into a ditch, the party executives are now alive to their responsibilities,” he stated.
Lamido revealed that he would no longer attend meetings of the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BOT) until disciplinary measures are taken against erring members.
His stance comes as the PDP’s NWC issued a stern warning on Friday to members openly supporting President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections, describing such actions as “anti-party” and unconstitutional.
The party’s leadership cautioned that those undermining the PDP’s unity would face “stiffer sanctions” if they fail to retrace their steps.
