FORMER Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has described former President Goodluck Jonathan as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) strongest option for the 2027 presidential election, urging the party to make concerted efforts to bring him back.
“I think for PDP now they should try to woo him [Jonathan]; he is their best bet. To me, he is their best bet. Anybody put forth by the PDP, Nigerians will support him,” the ex-governor said on Friday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today monitored by News Point Nigeria.
Lamido described Jonathan as one who has led the country before, understands governance, and works well with others.
According to the PDP chieftain, no current party member from the South can match Jonathan’s experience.
“He is most welcome, competent, and very qualified. To me, I welcome him into the PDP. I think so far in the PDP, with all respect to all members, I don’t see a better alternative than Jonathan if he comes to the PDP.
“I don’t see any other person, really. If we are giving the presidency to the South, it will be the PDP. Who is there in PDP now that can challenge Jonathan in terms of being in office, being full-headed, being somebody who is willing to listen, and somebody who is also a key player who believes in partnership?” the former governor said.
Lamido also called for the expulsion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; former Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom; former Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, and other members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who, according to him, worked against the party during the 2023 general elections.
“All those erring members, the Wikes, the Ortoms, the Ikpeazus and others, who openly campaigned against the PDP in the 2023 elections, and who say that they are going to work for the APC in 2027, should be sacked from the party,” he stated.
The PDP stalwart further expressed frustration over what he described as a long-standing culture of impunity within the party, stressing that it was time the leadership enforced disciplinary measures.
“From way back after the primaries of 2022 leading to the elections of 2023, there are people who, because of their interest and ambition, felt aggrieved about what transpired in the party’s convention.
“And they turned out against the party and fought the party. We’ve been having this kind of problem, the impunity of people castrating the party and denouncing it,” Lamido said.
Lamido’s remarks came amid persistent speculation over Jonathan’s possible return to the PDP to seek the presidency in 2027.
Jonathan, who has largely kept a low political profile since losing the 2015 presidential race, has not publicly declared his intentions.
However, growing speculation over his possible comeback, fuelled by reports of quiet negotiations and lobbying within PDP circles, has made him one of the closely watched political figures ahead of 2027.
