A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Bode George, has said former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, acted on a misunderstanding of the party’s nomination process for its 2025 national convention.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, George expressed shock that Lamido resorted to litigation, insisting that the former governor failed to follow clearly stated procedures.
Explaining the events that triggered the dispute, George said the nomination guidelines were approved at the last National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
“At the last NEC meeting we had, the date for the collection of forms for those who wanted to contest was stipulated.
“What they are supposed to do and when they are supposed to return the forms were all well stated and approved by NEC. That is the procedure,” he explained.
The PDP chieftain added that all aspirants complied except Lamido.
“Everybody who wanted to collect forms was live, paid the normal dues, and they got the form. But on his (Lamido’s) own side, he came physically on the very day that the return of forms closed. …
“But to now take that to court because they didn’t give him the form? That day was the last day to return the forms, so did he do what is right?” he asked.
George insisted the party’s national convention would proceed as scheduled.
“The convention will go on. The court under Justice Akintola has given its own judgment. He stated that the order to continue our operations has been extended till Monday next week and that he will give his own judgement on 8 December.”
Also appearing on the programme, Lamido insisted the case was not an attack on the PDP but a personal attempt to reclaim his honour.
“I went to court not because I have anybody in mind, but I went to get my rights taken by my party back. The issue is just about my own personality, dignity and honour being restored more than anything else,” he said.
Lamido further stressed that he would not attend the convention in Ibadan: “How do I go there again? Am I now renouncing something I gained in the court?”
The PUNCH
