‘PDP cannot survive 2027 without reconciling with Wike’ – Lamido

Former Governor of Jigawa State and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, has softened his earlier stance on the crisis rocking the opposition party, now urging reconciliation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. In this interview with JOHN AKUBO, Lamido explains the shift in his position, offering fresh insight into the internal dynamics, survival strategies and looming calculations shaping the PDP ahead of 2027.

You were known to be a hardliner against the activities of the Minister of the FCT as against the PDP, but you appear to be shifting positions. Why?

FOR months, I stood out as one of the most outspoken critics of Nyesom Wike within the PDP. At the height of the party’s internal crisis, I openly demanded Wike’s expulsion, accusing the party leadership of lacking the courage to discipline him despite his public alignment with the ruling party and the government.

At one point, I even threatened to boycott meetings of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) on the grounds that the PDP could not maintain its moral authority while tolerating what I described as open anti-party conduct by Wike. But today, the dynamics have changed, and they warrant reconciliation through dialogue with Wike and his allies. This may sound surprising to many, but it is the reality.

Please be clear: the shift is not about endorsing Wike’s actions but about confronting political reality. Since this crisis escalated, several influential PDP figures and governors have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), leaving the party weakened and struggling to maintain the structures necessary to contest elections.

I believe the PDP must move beyond past grievances and focus on survival. The fact is that the PDP’s internal divisions have indirectly strengthened the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the only way we can truly consolidate our strength to challenge the ruling party in 2027 is through reconciliation, which is now the only viable path forward.

Are you supporting Wike?

Are you asking whether I am endorsing whatever Wike has done to the PDP? As of today, tell me, what is the condition of the PDP? It is in a comatose state. No matter what anybody says, whether it is Wike or Governor Bala Mohammed or anyone else, my question is: what is the status of the PDP today? As far as I know, the party has no national executive elected through a convention. There was also a court ruling, and, from my understanding, the group that went to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has now become the symbol and authority of the PDP. So, what are we talking about?

Time is not even on our side, going by the INEC timetable for the next general elections. Therefore, something urgent and cogent needs to be done. The PDP is still the only party with the national spread to play a strong opposition role.
So, in your view, PDP’s challenges go beyond personalities like Wike…

Exactly. The issue is bigger than any individual. The party is facing structural and legal challenges that threaten its very existence.
The party stakeholders recently met and discussed these issues extensively. After deliberations, they decided not to appeal the Supreme Court verdict on the convention matter. Instead, they agreed that the best path forward is reconciliation that must involve all parties, regardless of the roles they may have played in the past.

Why do you believe reconciliation has become so urgent now?

We want people to contest elections under the PDP, for the National Assembly, state assemblies, governorship positions and even the presidency, if possible. But the current crisis is affecting the party’s ability to prepare for those elections. Without a functioning structure, you cannot nominate candidates or organise primaries.
All of us are fatigued, Wike, Governor Seyi Makinde, Bala, everybody. Because of that fatigue, people are now looking for a way out. And the only realistic solution is reconciliation.

Why are you taking a different approach?

Because the political situation has changed dramatically. Those who were accusing Wike are now the ones inside the APC. The governors who refused to listen when I spoke against Wike have already defected.

Are you suggesting their actions are worse than Wike’s?

Wike is still in the PDP, even if he says he is working for President Bola Tinubu. But those governors are already in the APC. So, whose offence is bigger? The future is dynamic. Between now and tomorrow, anything can happen. Wike may change his position before the next election. Politics is unpredictable. But those who have already moved to the APC have taken a definite step.

What practical steps should the PDP take now to rebuild?

The most important thing now is to rebuild the party structure. Let us call Wike and say: ‘expand the caretaker committee and bring in all the groups’. Members from Makinde’s camp and other stakeholders who are still in the PDP should also be included.

How will that help resolve the crisis?

If the caretaker committee is expanded to include everyone, then we can sit down as one family. From there, we organise a proper, all-inclusive convention to elect a new national leadership. That leadership will then have the legitimacy to guide the party forward.

Do you have any personal ambition in this process?

No, not at all. I am not running for any office anymore. My concern is simply about rebuilding the party. I have served my time in politics. Now my interest is in ensuring that the PDP survives.

What worries you most about the party’s current situation?

My biggest worry is that many people still want to contest elections under the PDP. They want to run for the House of Assembly, governorship, Senate and other offices. But the party must have the instruments to nominate candidates, a functioning NEC and leadership. If we remain trapped in accusations and counter-accusations about anti-party activities, we will not move forward.

What impact did the recent defections to the APC have on the PDP?

Many leaders have moved to the APC. The same people who organised the Ibadan convention are now there. That shows the scale of the crisis within the PDP. Politicians often think about their own interests and political survival. That is why some of them made the decisions they did.

What does this mean for the APC itself?

History shows that when one party becomes too dominant, internal contradictions eventually emerge. So, we are waiting to see how the ruling party itself will handle the impending crisis it will face.

What is your outlook for the future of the PDP?

We are embarking on a journey of hope. When you start such a journey, you do not begin by inviting negative predictions. Yes, we are facing a formidable opponent. Many of our generals have defected, and that has weakened the party. But we must focus on how to salvage what remains.

Do you believe the party should work with the current caretaker structure for now?

Yes. As far as the law is concerned, Wike’s committee is what exists at the moment. Like it or not, that is the reality we must deal with. What we should do now is reconstitute the committee to make it more inclusive. We must send a clear message that the PDP belongs to all of us.

Will the PDP adopt President Tinubu as a consensus or sole candidate?

You are bringing a very unnecessary and irrelevant scenario into our party. Please, just say no and leave it at that level. The issue of Tinubu, his government, and his party is their own problem. So, please stop inviting him into our own crisis, into our own problem.
We have our own issues as a party, and we must address them internally. Bringing in Tinubu or trying to link our challenges to him does not help us in any way. It only distracts from the real task before us, which is to rebuild, reconcile, and reposition the PDP.

Despite the reports that the camp of Wike has listed such a move among conditions for peace…
Wike is free to pursue his own interest; that is his right as a member of the party. But there must be something called PDP left behind for all of us.

He cannot appropriate our heritage, our history, and our legacy and turn it into his own personal enterprise. The PDP is bigger than any individual, no matter how influential that person may be. When we come together as a party and engage him, we will be able to tell him clearly: you are wrong. This is not about one person; it is about the collective interest of the party.
He may have his own views and feelings, and that is fine in a democracy. But ultimately, we must look at what is best for the PDP as a family and how we move forward together. That is the most important thing.

There have been recurring calls on former President Goodluck Jonathan to return as the PDP presidential candidate. Do you see him as a viable option?

If you can recall, about a year ago, I was among those who said we needed someone like Jonathan as a unifying figure for the PDP. At that time, I believed he had the stature and acceptance to bring the party together and help us move forward. But today, the situation has changed. I don’t think Jonathan, in his own wisdom, will come back to the PDP under the current circumstances. The party is too chaotic.
There are problems everywhere, internal disagreements, lack of cohesion, and unresolved conflicts. He can only come in when we are fully reconciled. If we are not united, there is nothing he can do. No individual, no matter how respected, can fix a party that is not ready to fix itself.

So, for now, our priority should not be about bringing in any big name. Our priority should be to put the party back in order, to rebuild trust among members, and to restore unity. Once that is achieved, we can begin discussing candidates.

Will zoning remain a key factor in selecting the PDP’s next presidential candidate? Is there a preferred region?

The PDP has already taken a position on that. About six months ago, the party officially zoned the presidential ticket to the South. So it is very clear, it is about southern candidates.

Anybody from the South who is qualified is free to come out and contest. That is the democratic process. But before anyone comes forward, they need to see a party that is credible, cohesive, united, and serious.

As things stand now, I don’t think many serious candidates will be eager to come in, because the purpose of contesting an election is to win. If you do not have a united and organised party, you cannot win.

So again, it comes back to the same issue, reconciliation and rebuilding the party.

Would you agree that the PDP is dead?

Who says so, and who is declaring the PDP dead? Please, ignore those people. That is their wishful thinking. If the PDP is truly dead, why are they talking about it? The fact that they are constantly talking about PDP shows that the party is very alive.

They know that an organised PDP will be their own demise. That is why they keep making such statements, to create doubt and weaken morale. But we understand what they are doing, and we will not be distracted by it. So, I say again, ignore their ranting and raving. The PDP is alive, and it will remain a major force in Nigerian politics.

There are concerns about possible defections, including speculation that Governor Bala Mohammed may leave the party. How do you respond to such developments?

In a period like this, when we are trying to reconcile and rebuild, we must be very careful with our language. We should not say things that will add fuel to the fire.

We must speak positively about the party and about our members. We must show that we believe in them and that we are committed to keeping the party together. Speculation and careless statements can do significant damage, so we must approach these issues with caution and responsibility.

What message do you have for PDP leaders who have defected to the APC?

They acted in what they believe is their own interest. Politicians always think about their future security after leaving office. So I do not blame them for making their choice. But the truth is that their actions have done incalculable damage to the PDP. Only God can forgive them for that. (Guardian)