By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Kano
Former Jigawa State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has taken legal action against the party after he was allegedly denied the opportunity to purchase the nomination form for the position of National Chairman.
Lamido, who spoke in an interview with the BBC, described the development as “shocking and painful,” accusing some party leaders, including governors and zonal executives, of betraying him and blocking his ambition.
According to him, the move was part of a deliberate plan to sideline him despite his long-standing contributions to the formation and growth of the PDP.
“I have contributed immensely to the PDP and Nigeria. To see efforts made to stop me from contesting in the very party we suffered to establish is deeply disheartening,” Lamido said.
He alleged that PDP governors had reached a secret agreement to back former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, as their preferred consensus candidate, sidelining other aspirants.
Lamido claimed that Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, had promised to hand the position to Shekarau, while Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, convened a meeting in Abuja to finalise the arrangement.
“But before that meeting, PDP governors had decided that no one they did not support should be allowed to emerge as national chairman,” he alleged.
The former Foreign Affairs Minister expressed disappointment that those he regarded as his close political associates were part of the plot.
“This is one of the saddest moments of my political life. My brothers and companions in the PDP turned against me, saying I could not contest unless I went to court,” Lamido said.
He revealed that former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi, had earlier encouraged him to contest, noting that the position had been zoned to the Northwest before he was later excluded.
Lamido said he felt disrespected that junior party members were the ones calling him to negotiate over the position.
“This is not about arrogance or pride. But to say that Shekarau and Turaki would call me about a PDP matter is simply disrespectful,” he said.
He maintained that his decision to contest for the chairmanship was to strengthen the PDP and prevent further defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The truth is, some people want us to join the APC. But if I become PDP chairman, let’s see who will have the courage to ask us to decamp again,” Lamido declared.