Former Jigawa State Governor and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Sule Lamido, has revealed that the party may be compelled to enter strategic alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections if ongoing reconciliation efforts fail to resolve its internal crisis.
Lamido made the disclosure while receiving PDP stakeholders and party leaders from Jigawa State at his office in Kano, where he stressed that urgent reconciliation remains the only viable path to rescuing the party from further decline.
He recalled that he had earlier urged party members to exercise patience until December 9, pending a decision on the fate of the PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.
According to him, the timeline was part of wider consultations aimed at restoring stability and unity within the party.
The former governor disclosed that he had held high-level consultations with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, during which strategies were mapped out to engage PDP governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in reconciliation talks.
He also revealed that some of the meetings were hosted 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 cautioned that failure to achieve reconciliation would leave the PDP with no option but to explore alliances, not coalitions, describing such a move as inevitable and capable of significantly reshaping 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.
Lamido also lamented the party’s declining electoral fortunes in Kano State, noting that the PDP secured only about 15,000 votes in the last general elections.
He further criticised the defection of the party’s former vice-presidential candidate to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the development as a major setback.
According to him, internal rivalries within the PDP have largely benefited the APC, alleging that political alignments in the South-West have favoured the ruling party due to tribal sentiments.
Earlier, the Jigawa State Chairman of the PDP, Dr Babandi Ibrahim, said the meeting was a follow-up to 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 remains in a state of uncertainty, recalling that Lamido had earlier appealed for patience while efforts were being made to address 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.