Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has sharply rebuffed an invitation from ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), branding the call an insult to his political roots. Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa on Sunday, Lamido reaffirmed his unwavering loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asserting that it was the platform that shaped El-Rufai’s own political career.
Lamido’s rejection comes in response to El-Rufai’s recent defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the SDP, followed by his public appeal to opposition leaders to unite under the SDP banner ahead of the 2027 elections. While El-Rufai did not specifically name Lamido, he extended his invitation to prominent figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola during a separate BBC Hausa interview.
“The party we formed, the PDP, is the one that gave birth to El-Rufai. You’re not enough to make us leave the PDP,” Lamido declared, emphasizing the PDP’s foundational role in El-Rufai’s rise to prominence, including his tenure as a minister under a PDP-led government. He took a swipe at El-Rufai’s consistency, recalling the latter’s past assertion that there were no political elders in Nigeria. “He once said that there are no adults in Nigeria in politics, but now he is calling on us to join him in the SDP,” Lamido quipped, highlighting what he sees as a contradiction in El-Rufai’s stance.
The former Jigawa governor didn’t stop at defending his party allegiance. He questioned El-Rufai’s motives for abandoning the APC for the SDP and critiqued his leadership approach, suggesting it lacks the substance to inspire a mass defection. “Lamido queried El-Rufai’s motive for dumping the APC for the SDP and his leadership style,” indicating a deep skepticism about the former Kaduna governor’s political strategy and intentions.
Lamido’s steadfast commitment to the PDP was a central theme of his remarks. He argued that the opposition party, despite its challenges, has not committed any offense to justify his departure. His stance contrasts sharply with El-Rufai’s narrative, who has positioned the SDP as a viable alternative to both the APC and other opposition platforms like the PDP and Labour Party, which he has claimed are ineffective against the ruling party.
The exchange marks a significant escalation in the political rivalry between the two former governors, reflecting broader tensions within Nigeria’s opposition landscape as the 2027 elections loom. For Lamido, the PDP remains not just a political home but a legacy worth defending, while El-Rufai’s overtures signal an ambitious bid to reshape the opposition through the SDP. As the battle lines harden, this clash underscores the deep ideological and personal divides shaping Nigeria’s political future.
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