A former Governor of Jigawa State and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, has dismissed speculations of his alleged planned defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Lamido reaffirmed his commitment to the PDP while acknowledging the party’s internal issues.
The former Governor, however, declared his readiness to align with any political arrangement, whether within or outside the PDP, that is capable of securing and stabilising Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Naijaonpoint reports that Lamido, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, made the declaration on Tuesday while addressing journalists in Kano.
“I believe in Nigeria. So any arrangements, be it within or outside the Peoples Democratic Party, that will secure and save Nigeria, I am ready to work with it in 2027,” he stated.
‘I Won’t Renounce My PDP Legacy’ – Lamido Declares
Speaking on rumours about his alleged planned defection, Lamido said: “I’m still in PDP, even though PDP has some problems. But I cannot renounce my history. I can’t simply walk out of my skin and crawl in flesh and blood and be conferred with a smaller skin called ADC. I cannot.”
Lamido, who governed Jigawa from 2007 to 2015 under the PDP, noted that the party had honoured him with significant political positions and shaped his political identity.
“So, I cannot simply renounce my history, my legacy and my heritage and say, ‘Today I got something new. I am out of PDP.’ I will not do that,” he said.
On the rising agitation for the creation of additional states in Nigeria, the former governor acknowledged the legitimacy of such demands but questioned their effectiveness in solving Nigeria’s current challenges.
“Will the creation of new states solve our problems, insecurity, poverty, hunger and division between the North and the South? There are more pressing issues than creating additional states,” the former Governor warned.
Lamido maintained that while restructuring and state creation may hold symbolic or political value, Nigeria’s immediate priorities should be addressing worsening economic and security crises.
Naijaonpoint reports that Lamido also weighed in on the recent visit of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, saying the move was well within Kwankwaso’s rights.
“Kwankwaso is a citizen of Nigeria and a former governor. He has every right to visit the president of the country,” Lamido said.
The visit, which stirred speculation about potential political realignments in the North, has been interpreted by some observers as a prelude to broader coalition talks ahead of 2027.
Lamido, however, offered no indication of his involvement in such moves but reaffirmed his openness to any credible arrangement that could “secure and save” Nigeria.