The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has appealed to former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido to support ongoing efforts to stabilise the party.
The call comes as the PDP continues to face internal disagreements that have contributed to wider concerns about its organisational direction.
Lamido had recently criticised the party’s approach to resolving its leadership crisis during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service. In the interview, he referenced a pending court case he filed, insisting that the party disregarded judicial orders in the build up to its last national convention.
Responding to these claims, Umar Sani, a close associate of PDP National Chairman Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, said many of the statements made by the former governor were not accurate. He explained that no court ruling barred the PDP from holding its convention, as Lamido suggested.
According to Sani, the only directive issued by the court was for the party to allow Lamido to take part in the contest after proper verification, a decision the PDP had already challenged at the Supreme Court. He added that Lamido’s account did not reflect this development.
Sani further stated that another court sitting in Ibadan gave the PDP express approval to conduct its convention, which eventually produced a new set of national officers. This, he said, directly contradicts Lamido’s claim that the party currently lacks legitimate leadership.
He urged Lamido to prioritise unity, describing him as a founding member whose influence remains important to the party’s stability. Sani added that Lamido and Chairman Turaki have maintained a cordial relationship over the years and can still work together to prevent further division within the PDP, especially at a time when the party faces mounting public scrutiny.
