A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Bode George, has said that former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has every right to contest for the position of the party’s National Chairman despite ongoing consensus efforts.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, George explained that while the PDP often adopts consensus arrangements to ease tensions, such agreements do not bar other members from contesting.
“This has been part of the practice in the PDP. The fact that some leaders converge to support one person as a consensus candidate doesn’t mean others cannot compete,” George said.
He described consensus as an acceptable but non-binding procedure within the party.
“You want to make the process seamless and non-combative. We’ve done this before, but the party has never told anyone they cannot contest. Governor Sule Lamido has the right to compete. He can get the form, fill it, and appear on the convention day we will vote,” he added.
However, the PDP chieftain cautioned members against taking internal disputes to court without first exhausting the party’s internal conflict resolution mechanisms.
“This party is not owned by any individual. Before taking the party to court, you must exhaust the internal dynamics of the party. If you fail to do that, you can be punished,” he warned.
George reiterated that Lamido was within his rights to vie for the top position but advised him to avoid litigation over internal party processes.
“So, he is exercising his rights. But if he goes to court for this, he can be punished. Let him go nobody will deny him any form, and he can compete. The final decision will be by delegates attending the convention, and it will be done openly,” he said.
Lamido had on Monday threatened legal action against the PDP after alleging that he was denied access to the nomination form for the national chairmanship race.
During his visit to the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the former governor said he was informed by the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, that they had no information about the forms.
“I went to the office of the National Organising Secretary, which is normally where the forms are sold, and the office was locked. I met him with the party’s Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and both of them said they had no idea where the forms were or even how they were printed,” Lamido said.
Reports later indicated that the forms were being managed by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who chairs the PDP’s National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC).
