In a bold and stinging rebuke that has rippled through Nigeria’s political circles, former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has unleashed a fiery warning against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of setting the stage for his own political downfall.
Speaking to journalists after securing his position as a national delegate for the upcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congress, Lamido did not mince words. He accused Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of weaponizing federal institutions including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to stifle opposition voices ahead of the pivotal 2027 elections.
“If you look at the way people are trooping out of the PDP, it is very obnoxious and dangerous for the country,” Lamido cautioned. “By destroying the opposition through state institutions, Tinubu is not just weakening the PDP he is weakening himself and jeopardizing Nigeria’s democracy.”
Lamido’s remarks come at a time of deepening concern over Nigeria’s democratic health. He emphasized that the existence of a vibrant, fearless opposition is not optional but fundamental to a functioning democracy. Without it, he warned, the entire political system teeters on collapse and the consequences would inevitably catch up with Tinubu himself.
“The foundation of democracy is built on freedom, liberty, and opposition,” Lamido said pointedly. “Tinubu, in his short-sightedness, thinks that crippling PDP will boost his political fortune. But in truth, he is being too clever by half. Destroying PDP is destroying Nigeria itself and when the house falls, it will fall on him.”
Despite a wave of defections rocking the PDP in recent months, Lamido remained defiant and hopeful. He predicted that the political tide would soon turn, claiming that by the end of 2025, many of those now aligning with the ruling party would reconsider their positions and return to the opposition fold.
“Just wait for five or six months. Those defecting today will come back when the harsh reality dawns on them,” he said. “They are only following Tinubu out of fear, not loyalty.”
Lamido further accused the Tinubu administration of using the EFCC and other state apparatuses as instruments of political intimidation, rather than for genuine anti-corruption efforts. He pointedly reminded the public of past allegations that had dogged Tinubu himself during the tenure of former EFCC chairman Nuhu Ribadu.
“If Tinubu himself once faced corruption allegations under Nuhu Ribadu, what moral high ground does he stand on?” Lamido asked, reigniting old controversies that continue to shadow the president’s image.
Discussing his emergence as a national delegate, Lamido explained that recent amendments to the PDP constitution, which significantly reduced the number of delegates, created an opportunity for his candidacy. He described his election as a result of strong grassroots support from his local government area.
As Nigeria edges closer to the 2027 general elections, the political atmosphere is heating up. Lamido’s scathing critique underscores a larger battle for the soul of Nigeria’s democracy one that may determine not only the survival of the PDP but also the broader fate of political plurality in Africa’s largest democracy.
Analysts who spoke with WorldClass247News, argued that a democracy without opposition is a democracy on life support and President Tinubu, according to Lamido, risks being the architect of its downfall.