Lamido Rejects Consensus Deal, Declares Bid for PDP National Chairmanship

Former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has officially declared his intention to contest for the position of National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), rejecting the reported consensus arrangement that produced former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, as the preferred candidate.

Lamido made his declaration in a statement shared via his Facebook page on Monday, announcing plans to visit the PDP national secretariat in Abuja to obtain his nomination form. He affirmed his commitment to strengthening the party’s internal democracy and restoring its past glory.

“By the grace of God, I shall today, Monday, 27th October 2025, by 11 a.m., be at Wadata Plaza, the National Headquarters of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, to purchase the nomination form to run for the office of National Chairman of the Party,” Lamido stated. “My commitment to democracy and resolve to restore our dear party to its old glory is unstoppable,” he added.

Lamido’s declaration comes amid growing dissent within the PDP following the endorsement of Turaki as the consensus candidate by some party governors and leaders ahead of the November national convention.

Although the Adamawa State Governor and Chairman of the PDP National Convention Organising Committee, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, clarified that the endorsement does not prevent others from contesting, the move has generated resistance from several stakeholders, particularly in the North West zone.

The PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, and other influential figures from the zone, including Mustapha Sule Lamido, faulted the endorsement, alleging that the governors failed to consult with regional leaders before adopting Turaki.

Similarly, the PDP in Katsina State publicly rejected Turaki’s endorsement, describing it as a breach of the party’s zoning understanding. The party’s Publicity Secretary in Katsina, Sani Dododo, while addressing journalists in Birnin Kebbi, insisted that the North West should be allowed to choose its own candidate through due consultation.

Defending the endorsement, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, maintained that consensus remains a legitimate provision in the PDP constitution. He described the internal disagreements as part of the natural dynamics of politics.

“No matter what we do, some people will still be aggrieved. It is part of politics,” Lawal said during the inauguration of the accreditation sub-committee for the convention on Friday.

Lamido’s entry into the race is expected to further test the strength of the PDP’s internal cohesion as the opposition party prepares for a crucial national convention that could redefine its leadership direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.