Politics
2027: PDP Must Be Ready To Form Alliances – Lamido
Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has urged leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to prepare to ally with other political parties if the national leadership fails to resolve its deepening crisis.
Lamido said he would lead the PDP in Jigawa into such alliances to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
The former governor made the declaration on Monday during a meeting held at his office with PDP leaders and supporters from all 27 local government areas of Jigawa State.
Speaking to the gathering, Lamido, who governed the state from 2007 to 2015, briefed party faithful on the leadership tussle that has effectively paralyzed the PDP national headquarters.
He revealed that the party’s national secretariat remained under a police lockdown as rival factions continue to vie for control of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Despite national paralysis, Lamido assured that the PDP leadership in Jigawa State remained “intact” and ready to act upon clear directives.
Before the meeting, he reportedly held discussions with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Senate President Bukola Saraki in efforts to explore solutions to the unfolding crisis.
Lamido said the fate of the PDP now rested with governors Bala Muhammed (Bauchi), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), as well as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He confirmed that the party’s reconciliation committee, led by Saraki, had consulted with the governors and Wike in a bid to broker peace within the party.
Lamido, a founding member of the PDP since 1998, said a failure of internal reconciliation would make alliances with other opposition parties unavoidable.
He told the gathering, “If reconciliation fails, alliances, not coalitions, will become inevitable.
“You know there is a difference between alliance and coalition; we are going to form alliances with any of the opposition parties.”
He said the outcome of the reconciliation efforts would be communicated to grassroots leaders on Wednesday, after which the party in Jigawa would be shown “the direction to follow.”
No Merger, But Strategic Partnerships
Lamido clarified that the PDP was not considering a merger with other parties but rather a strategic alliance, a move he described as capable of reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 polls.
His comments come amid concerns among his supporters that he might defect, particularly after his inability to purchase the nomination form to contest the National Chairman post, a matter he is currently pursuing in court.
Despite his long association with the party, Lamido criticised PDP governors, lawmakers and leaders, accusing them of neglecting the party’s unity and prioritising personal interests over the collective survival of the party.
The crisis at the heart of the PDP, which has led to high‑profile defections to the APC, remains a power struggle over the position of National Chairman, with internal fractures deepening since the 2023 general elections.
The Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Gombe Local Government Area of Gombe State, Hon. Babangida Usman, popularly known as Babangida Ventures, has resigned from the party and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in support of the governorship ambition of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami ahead of the 2027 general election.
Babangida announced his resignation in Gombe, confirming that he had stepped down as ADC Local Government Secretary before formally joining the PDP.
Explaining the reasons for his defection, he said his decision was driven by his conviction that Professor Pantami possesses the competence, experience and leadership qualities required to move Gombe State forward.
He described the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy as the most credible and capable aspirant in the 2027 governorship race, expressing confidence that his administration would accelerate development across the state.
According to him, his decision to align with the PDP was borne out of his desire to contribute to the realisation of Pantami’s governorship aspiration and the transformation of Gombe State.
The defection is the latest in a series of political realignments in the state following Pantami’s emergence as the PDP governorship candidate, with several politicians and supporters across party lines declaring their support for his ambition.
Professor Pantami is expected to fly the PDP flag in the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, denied social media reports that he urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The Sultan’s media team, in a statement signed by Prince Bashir Adefaka on Tuesday, said the monarch cannot make partisan political statements publicly or privately.
Prince Bashir Adefaka urged Nigerians and media users to reject the claim, verify reports before sharing, and avoid dragging royal and religious institutions into politics.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that he has called on Nigerians to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The Sultan’s media team, in a statement signed by Prince Bashir Adefaka and made available to Naija News on Tuesday, described the claim as false, insisting that the Sultan, as a father figure to all Nigerians, could not make such a partisan political statement either publicly or privately.
Adefaka urged Nigerians to disregard and condemn what it described as a malicious attempt to drag the Sultan into partisan politics.
“Our simple response to the report is that it is not possible for the Sultan, as the father of all, to make such a statement, either publicly or in any other forum,” the statement said.
It further stated, “Let it be made clear once again that the institutions of monarchy and religion led by the Sultan are institutions of a father figure. As such, His Eminence cannot but remain within the purview of that role by offering fatherly, royal and spiritual blessings, as well as guidance, to Nigerian politicians who seek his counsel and blessings.
“The Sultan’s doors cannot be shut against anyone who comes to him, regardless of political affiliation or persuasion. His Eminence has consistently demonstrated that he is the father of all and will continue to relate with all Nigerians without discrimination.”
The Media Team called on members of the public to reject any attempt to misrepresent the Sultan’s position or associate him with the political campaign or candidacy of any individual ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It added that the Sultan remained committed to promoting peace, unity, stability and peaceful coexistence among Nigeria’s diverse peoples and faiths.
The statement also appealed to media practitioners and social media users to exercise restraint by verifying information before sharing reports capable of misleading the public or dragging traditional and religious institutions into partisan political controversies
Senator Mohammed Onawo, who represents Nasarawa South Senatorial District, announced on Wednesday, August 5, that he has left the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and joined the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), using the occasion to formally declare his bid for the Nasarawa State governorship ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Onawo made the announcement at a news conference held in Lafia, the state capital. A development that could pose a threat to the ambition of Atiku Abubakar, the 2027 presidential candidate of the ADC.
Atiku, who was a former vice president of Nigeria, has been at the forefront of sacking President Bola Tinubu through the poll.
Vanguard reported that the senator was originally elected in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before switching to the ADC. His latest move marks his second party defection within a short period.
Why Onawo left the ADC Onawo blamed his exit on what he described as a “sham” governorship primary process within the ADC in Nasarawa State.
He said the conduct of the primaries was characterised by manipulation and a lack of democratic process, and described the situation as worse than the circumstances that pushed him out of the PDP.
He said the decision to defect followed broad consultations with elders, political associates, and key stakeholders across the state.
Onawo’s governorship pitch Pitching himself as the right candidate for the top job in Nasarawa, Onawo said the state needed a leader who genuinely understood the diversity of its people. He promised to pursue unity among the state’s various ethnic and religious groups if voted into office.
The senator said his years of political experience, legislative background, and grassroots connections had positioned him ahead of governorship candidates from other parties. He also pledged to run an all-inclusive government focused on delivering prosperity to every resident of the state.
Onawo used the occasion to call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the 2027 elections are free, fair, and credible.
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