The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has begun early consolidation ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Jigawa State, clearing Mustapha Sule Lamido as the only aspirant screened for its governorship ticket.
Lamido, the party’s 2023 governorship candidate in the state, was screened by the PDP committee at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja on Thursday ahead of the primaries scheduled for May 21.
His emergence as the sole aspirant screened places him in a strong position to clinch the party’s ticket for the 2027 governorship election, where he is expected to challenge the incumbent governor, Umar Namadi of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Rather than presenting a crowded contest, the PDP screening outcome signals an early attempt by the party to streamline its internal process and project unity as it prepares for a high-stakes political battle in Jigawa.
Speaking after the exercise in Abuja, Lamido said his renewed ambition is driven by the need to reposition Jigawa State and deliver governance that directly improves the lives of citizens.
He said a new generation of political actors must take responsibility for rebuilding trust in governance through leadership anchored on vision, discipline, and service.
Lamido also raised concerns over increasing defections among politicians, describing it as evidence of weak ideological grounding in the country’s political system.
According to him, politics must return to principles, where parties and leaders are guided by clear commitments to the people rather than shifting personal interests.
He maintained that the PDP remains the most structured opposition platform capable of addressing Nigeria’s economic and governance challenges.
The Jigawa PDP chieftain further expressed confidence that the party could improve on its previous performance, where it secured over 400,000 votes in the governorship election.
“With unity, commitment, and strong support from the people, we are confident of achieving better results in 2027,” he said.
The clearance is seen as an early signal of the PDP’s strategy to avoid prolonged internal contest and focus on building momentum ahead of what is expected to be a competitive governorship race in Jigawa State.