Former Jigawa State Governor and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Sule Lamido, has escalated the ongoing internal party crisis by filing a lawsuit to stop the party’s national convention scheduled for November 15-16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State. This legal action comes amid mounting tensions over his exclusion from the race for the party’s national chairmanship.
Lamido initiated the court process seeking to halt the screening of aspirants, particularly targeting the sole candidacy of former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabir Tanimu Turaki, who recently received endorsements from PDP governors and senior members. Lamido contended that his inability to access nomination forms and the screening process was unjust, deepening factional divides within the party.
The lawsuit represents a sharp challenge to the party’s leadership and threatens to disrupt preparations for the convention, which is crucial for reorganizing PDP’s national leadership ahead of the 2027 elections. A separate court case by other party figures loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is also pending to stop the convention.
PDP Board of Trustees member Bode George cautioned Lamido against immediately resorting to court, urging him to exhaust internal dispute resolution mechanisms first. George maintained that the party remains committed to a transparent and inclusive electoral process for the chairmanship.
The convention organizing committee has indefinitely postponed the screening exercise initially set for October 28, citing unforeseen circumstances, and promised to announce a new date soon. The unfolding disputes reflect deeper factionalism within PDP, raising concerns about party unity as the national convention approaches.
Observers note that the resolution of the legal challenges will be a critical test of PDP's resilience and readiness to reposition itself as a credible opposition force in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.