Lamido backs INEC on ADC leadership crisis, says Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso are politically displaced

Sule Lamido, former Jigawa State governor, has thrown his weight behind the decision of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw recognition of the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing key opposition figures who aligned with the party as “politically displaced.”

Lamido made the remarks while addressing journalists after a stakeholders’ consultative meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Dutse, Jigawa State. He criticised prominent politicians including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for abandoning their political bases to align with the ADC.

According to him, their move reflected a lack of leadership capacity to resolve internal party disputes.

INEC had recently suspended recognition of the leadership led by former Senate President David Mark as ADC national chairman and former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary. The electoral body acted following an Appeal Court judgment and a legal challenge filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe over the party’s national chairmanship.

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Lamido said the development demonstrated the consequences of what he described as attempts by defecting politicians to “take over” another party rather than resolving issues within their original platforms.

“INEC operates within the powers granted to it by the constitution to regulate political parties. Politicians must avoid creating situations that give the commission grounds to intervene,” he said.

The PDP chieftain argued that leaving an established political party because of internal disagreements and attempting to control a smaller platform was morally questionable.

“You leave a party with a strong history and foundation and go to a smaller platform because you think you are powerful enough to take it over. That raises serious questions about the kind of leadership such people want to offer the country,” he added.

Lamido also reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP despite ongoing internal tensions within the party. He defended his attendance at a recent PDP national convention organised by a faction associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Describing the PDP as his political home, Lamido said the party’s challenges should not drive members to abandon it.

“If my house is leaking, I should repair it rather than abandon it for a smaller one,” he said.
He further stated that the PDP remained determined to contest all elective offices—from state assembly seats to the presidency—in the next general elections.

Lamido also clarified that while some party members describe Wike as a national leader of the PDP, such opinions remain a matter of personal perspective within a democratic system. He noted that neither he nor former Senate President Bukola Saraki referred to Wike as their political leader during the convention