Former Jigawa State Governor and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, has warned that the party may be compelled to form political alliances if its ongoing reconciliation efforts fail to restore internal unity and stability.
Lamido issued the warning on Monday while receiving PDP stakeholders and party leaders from Jigawa State at his office in Kano. He stressed that urgent and sincere reconciliation within the party was necessary to prevent further decline and possible marginalisation ahead of future elections.
According to the former governor, the PDP is currently at a critical crossroads and must resolve its internal leadership crisis without delay. He recalled that he had earlier appealed to party members to exercise patience until December 9, pending a final decision on the status of the party’s acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum. Lamido explained that the timeline was part of broader consultations aimed at restoring order and stability within the party’s national leadership.
Lamido disclosed that he had held extensive discussions with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Senate President Bukola Saraki on strategies to engage key PDP stakeholders, including governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, in reconciliation efforts. He revealed that some of the meetings were held at Saraki’s residence as part of behind-the-scenes moves to rescue the party.
“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, however, cautioned that if reconciliation ultimately fails, the PDP would have no option but to explore alliances, not coalitions. Lamido emphasised that alliances differ from coalitions and could significantly alter Nigeria’s political dynamics if adopted.
“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 party’s poor performance in Kano State during the last general elections, noting that the PDP secured only about 15,000 votes. He described the outcome as disappointing for a party with a long-standing political legacy.
Lamido further criticised the defection of the party’s former vice-presidential candidate to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a major setback that weakened the PDP’s national outlook. He also alleged that internal rivalries within the party had indirectly strengthened the APC, claiming that political alignments in the South-West were influenced by tribal sentiments favouring the ruling party.
Earlier, the Jigawa State Chairman of the PDP, Dr Babandi Ibrahim, said the meeting was a continuation of earlier engagements aimed at resolving the party’s lingering leadership crisis. He acknowledged that the PDP was currently facing uncertainty and reminded Lamido that party stakeholders had remained patient following his earlier appeal.
“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,” Babandi said.