Lamido declares bid for PDP national chairmanship, promises to rebuild party unity
Former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has formally declared his intention to contest for the position of National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), pledging to restore internal democracy, rebuild public trust, and reposition the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Lamido’s declaration, made on Sunday in Dutse, Jigawa State, marks the beginning of what is expected to be a competitive race for the PDP’s top leadership seat, as the party struggles to recover from internal crises, defections, and dwindling influence since its loss of power at the national level in 2015.
Speaking to journalists and party supporters, the former governor said his decision to seek the chairmanship was born out of a desire to unite the PDP family and return it to its founding ideals of inclusiveness, justice, and equity. According to him, the party had drifted away from the principles that once made it Nigeria’s dominant political force, noting that it was time for experienced leaders to step forward and rebuild it from within.
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“I am offering myself to serve because our party is at a critical juncture,” Lamido stated. “The PDP must rediscover its soul. We must move away from personal ambitions and sectional interests to rebuild a national movement that speaks for ordinary Nigerians. I believe we can restore the PDP’s pride and reposition it as a credible alternative to the ruling party.”
Lamido, who governed Jigawa State from 2007 to 2015, is one of the party’s founding members and a long-time ally of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He has been a vocal critic of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing it of failing to deliver on its promises and deepening Nigeria’s socioeconomic challenges.
His announcement comes amid growing calls within the PDP for leadership renewal following a series of electoral setbacks, internal wrangling, and public perception issues. Many stakeholders have blamed the party’s decline on weak leadership and factional divisions, urging a return to the disciplined, issue-based politics that once defined its early years.
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Reacting to Lamido’s declaration, some PDP chieftains welcomed his ambition, describing him as a leader with “the political maturity and ideological clarity” to stabilize the party. Others, however, expressed concerns that his candidacy might reignite old rivalries among senior figures, especially from the North-West, where several party heavyweights are also eyeing the top position.
Political observers note that Lamido’s entry into the race could significantly reshape internal power dynamics within the PDP. His long-standing relationships with party elders, coupled with his reputation as a grassroots mobilizer, may give him an edge in negotiations with state chapters and influential blocs.
The PDP National Executive Committee is expected to announce a date for its elective convention in the coming months. Until then, Lamido and other aspirants will intensify consultations across the country to secure support.
As the race gathers momentum, analysts say Lamido’s bid symbolizes more than a personal ambition; it represents a call for revival within Nigeria’s oldest surviving political party. Whether that call will unite or further divide the PDP remains to be seen.
