Former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido has insisted that his decision to seek legal redress over his disqualification from contesting the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was driven purely by a desire to reclaim his constitutional rights and personal honour.
Lamido explained his position during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, stressing that the lawsuit was neither an attack on party members nor a ploy to secure political advantage.
He framed it as a stand for principle at a time he believes the PDP is struggling with internal fractures.
He said the case symbolised “a fight for self-respect,” adding that it had nothing to do with targeting individuals.
According to him, “The matter was about restoring what should never have been taken away in the first place.”
Moreover, he expressed sadness at what he described as a steady decline in unity within the PDP.
The former governor noted that although he secured a court victory, the judgment highlighted deeper divisions within a party once known for its cohesion.
Lamido lamented that a once-trusted and respected political family had now become mired in infighting.
He said he hoped the internal rifts would be resolved soon, remarking that political parties cannot survive on discord.
“Winning the case was one thing,” he stated, “but real peace will only come when the party mends itself.”
The former governor also made it clear that he has no intention of attending the PDP national convention slated for November 15 in Ibadan.
He argued that doing so would amount to undermining the ruling of the court, which issued an order against the convention.
He explained that the injunction restored his right to contest, and attending the gathering would, in his words, “wash away everything the court affirmed.”
Lamido maintained that his loyalty to due process leaves him no choice but to abide fully by the judgment. “When the law speaks, a party man obeys,” he added.
Lamido further dismissed claims that he had engaged in discussions with PDP governors in a bid to resolve the crisis. Instead, he accused some of them of contributing to the party’s decline.
He pointed out that the PDP, which once boasted 14 governors, had dwindled to just three under the current leadership, warning that internal misjudgment among governors accelerated the party’s weakening.
He described their approach as “a misunderstanding of power,” arguing that an inflated sense of authority had harmed the party’s collective interests.
Despite the controversies around the leadership tussle, Lamido insisted he harbours no desperation to become PDP national chairman.
He, however, maintained that he remains committed to helping rebuild the party’s political machinery, saying his long experience could guide efforts to restore lost structures.
The debate over the PDP convention and Lamido’s renewed push for justice is expected to intensify discussions about the party’s future, especially as it grapples with declining influence and internal mistrust.