Former Jigawa State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Sule Lamido, has declared that his personal friendship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not stop him from opposing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.
Lamido made the statement in an interview with the BBC.
He stressed that politics and friendship should not be confused, noting that his loyalty lies with Nigeria’s progress and the survival of the opposition.
The comment followed public attention after Lamido and President Tinubu were seen laughing and exchanging pleasantries at the wedding of former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari’s son in Kaduna last Friday.
“Tinubu and I know each other very well, but we haven’t met in a while. He told me, ‘Sule, I love you because you are trustworthy.’ We laughed and left. But that doesn’t change politics.
My duty is to unite Nigerians in opposition to his government,” Lamido explained.
The PDP stalwart added that his goal is not personal, but about mobilising Nigerians for better governance.
He said although Atiku Abubakar and other PDP leaders have defected to the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), he remains in the PDP while maintaining contacts across the political spectrum.
“Atiku and I formed the PDP. We are still talking to many Nigerians who were once with us but are now scattered.
What we are doing is for the people, not ourselves,” Lamido said.
He further revealed that the PDP is making efforts to resolve internal crises and strengthen unity ahead of 2027.
“We are constantly engaging, reaching compromises where needed, and ensuring dialogue continues.
Nigeria must move forward, and we will hold Tinubu accountable,” he added.
Lamido has been one of the most outspoken critics of the APC since the Buhari years, but he acknowledged his long history with Tinubu dating back to their days in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 1990s.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State APC dismissed claims by the ADC that Tinubu would only serve one term, calling it “wishful thinking from political lightweights.”
APC spokesman Seye Oladejo insisted that Tinubu is laying the foundation for long-term transformation and urged Nigerians to ignore what he described as “idle talk.”
With Lamido maintaining his opposition stance and the PDP struggling to reorganize, the 2027 elections are shaping up to be another fierce political contest.