A senior member of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees and former military governor, Bode George, has stated that the former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, moved against the party based on a misunderstanding of the approved nomination procedures for the Peoples Democratic Party 2025 National Convention.
Speaking on a political affairs programme aired on Friday, George expressed deep concern that Lamido resorted to court action even though the guidelines for the collection and return of nomination forms had been formally approved at the previous National Executive Committee meeting.
According to him, the controversy emerged because the Peoples Democratic Party had clearly outlined the steps to be taken by any aspirant interested in participating in the forthcoming national convention.
“At the last National Executive Committee meeting we had, the date for the collection of forms for those who wanted to contest was stipulated. What they are supposed to do and when they are supposed to return the forms were all well stated and approved by the National Executive Committee. That is the procedure,” he stated.
George explained that all interested aspirants complied with the approved schedule except Lamido, who appeared on the final day designated for the return of completed forms.
“Everybody who wanted to collect forms was live, paid the normal dues, and they got the form. But on his own side, he came physically on the very day that the return of forms closed. Of course, with his status, if he had called them earlier or told them that he wanted to take this form, they would have obliged because of his status. But to now take that to court because they did not give him the form? That day was the last day to return the forms, so did he do what is right?” he asked.
Okay News reports that George reassured party members and Nigerians that the Peoples Democratic Party remains united despite the internal disputes and the court case that has tested the organisation in recent weeks.
“I want to reassure you that this party is solid, undivided, and the way things went on, I am hell-shocked that he took the party to court,” he said, adding that the Peoples Democratic Party remains “an Iroko” in Nigeria’s political landscape.
He disclosed that the convention would proceed as scheduled, citing a recent judicial pronouncement which allowed the party to continue its preparations while awaiting the final ruling expected on 8 December.
“The convention will go on. The court under Justice Akintola has given its own judgment. He stated that the order to continue our operations has been extended till Monday next week and that he will give his own judgement on 8 December,” George explained.
Lamido, who also participated in the broadcast, insisted that his move was not targeted at destroying the Peoples Democratic Party but was instead an effort to protect his personal dignity.
“I went to court not because I have anybody in mind, but I went to get my rights taken by my party back. The issue is just about my own personality, dignity and honour being restored more than anything else,” Lamido asserted.
He lamented that the dispute had revealed what he described as a breakdown of unity and trust within the Peoples Democratic Party.
“I won the case, fair enough, but then again, it is also equally tormenting that the case I won is about my party, about our unity, family. A family that was so united and cohesive, with so much love and trust, is all eroded, and we are now simply fighting. And I feel very sad; let the problem be solved,” he added.
Lamido maintained that he could not withdraw the case since the court had already delivered a ruling, and he criticised certain Peoples Democratic Party governors whom he accused of creating deeper divisions within the party.
He declared that he would not attend the upcoming convention in Ibadan because doing so would contradict the court order he received.
“This is very clear. For someone saved by the court, I cannot go where there is an injunction on the convention. How do I go there again? Am I now renouncing something I gained in the court? If I go to the convention, then it means whatever I have gotten has been washed away. There is a certain order from the court which restored my dignity, and therefore I will stand by the court because I am a party man who believes in law and order. Therefore, going to Ibadan means a renunciation of what I have gotten. The court gave a very clear injunction that the convention must not hold, so how do I go there? I cannot go there,” he insisted.
