By Muhammad Mamman
Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has reaffirmed his allegiance to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but declared his readiness to support any coalition aimed at toppling the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he branded a “malignant cancer” plaguing Nigeria. In a fiery interview on Arise News Television’s Prime Time programme on Tuesday, Lamido lambasted the APC’s governance since 2015, describing it as a festering corruption that must be “excised” to save the nation.
“We must eradicate this cancer called APC—call it malaria, stage-four cancer, whatever you will. It’s our nation’s scourge,” Lamido asserted, urging a united front to restore Nigeria’s democratic and economic health. While he endorsed the concept of a coalition as a “brilliant avenue for democracy,” he expressed scepticism about the current African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led alliance, cautioning that some opposition figures lack the depth required for a robust challenge.
“There’s too much haste,” he remarked. “These sprinters need to slow down, dig deeper, and forge a coalition rooted in national unity and critical issues—not fleeting personalities.”
Lamido stressed the need for a coalition that tackles Nigeria’s pressing challenges, including security, economic woes, and endemic corruption, to dislodge the APC in the 2027 elections.
Despite the PDP’s internal strife, the former Foreign Affairs Minister (1999–2003) vowed to remain steadfast, rejecting defection as a solution.
“In a crisis, you don’t flee—you stay and fight to uphold the vision of our founding fathers,” he declared.
The ADC-led coalition, formed in July, has attracted high-profile defectors from the PDP and APC, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola, ex-Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Senate President David Mark, who has emerged as a key figurehead.
Others, like former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, are reportedly backing the coalition but have yet to formally join the ADC.
