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Former Jigawa State Governor and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, has warned that the party may be forced to form alliances if ongoing reconciliation efforts fail.
Lamido spoke on Monday while receiving PDP stakeholders and party leaders from Jigawa State at his office in Kano.
He stressed that urgent reconciliation was needed to prevent the party from further decline.
He recalled that he had earlier asked party members to remain patient until December 9, pending a decision on the status of the PDP’s acting National
Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum. According to him, the deadline was part of wider consultations aimed at restoring stability within the party.
Lamido disclosed that he had held discussions with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Senate President Bukola Saraki on how to engage PDP governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in reconciliation efforts. He said some of the meetings took place at Saraki’s residence.
“We have consulted all of them and asked for cooperation. We are going to sit again. Don’t worry, you are going to vote. There is still no party like the PDP. We should not allow our personal ego to destroy it,” Lamido said.
He warned that if reconciliation efforts fail, the party would have no choice but to explore alliances, not coalitions, a move he said could significantly reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.
“If reconciliation fails, alliances not coalition will become inevitable. You know there is a difference between alliance and coalition. If you want to make a name in Nigeria, you should join the PDP,” he added.
The former governor also lamented the PDP’s poor performance in Kano State, noting that the party secured only about 15,000 votes in the last general elections.
He criticised the defection of the party’s former vice-presidential candidate to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a major setback.
Lamido further alleged that internal rivalry within the PDP had benefited the APC, claiming that political alignments in the South-West were influenced by tribal sentiments in favour of the ruling party.
Earlier, the Jigawa State Chairman of the PDP, Dr Babandi Ibrahim, said the meeting was a continuation of previous engagements aimed at resolving the party’s lingering leadership crisis.
“This meeting is a follow-up to our earlier sittings, especially regarding resolutions submitted by stakeholders on the fate of the party,” Babandi said.
He admitted that the party was facing uncertainty and recalled that Lamido had earlier appealed for patience while efforts were ongoing to resolve the leadership impasse.
“You asked us to come and we are here. As far as we are concerned, the party is in limbo. Up till this moment, Damagum and Anyanwu remain on the INEC platform as the recognised leaders of the party. We are here today before you, Sir,” he said.
PDP may seek alliances if reconciliation fails – Sule Lamido
