Sule Lamido Accuses Tinubu of Using APC to Divide Nigeria

Sule Lamido, a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former governor of Jigawa State, has accused President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of damaging Nigeria’s democracy for personal political gain.

Speaking to journalists in Kano, Lamido said the current government is using intimidation, blackmail, and state institutions to suppress opposition figures and coerce rivals. He claimed that rather than promoting unity, Tinubu’s style of leadership is creating distrust and tension among Nigerians.

Lamido pointed to what he described as selective justice, alleging that politicians facing corruption charges are allowed to walk free after joining the APC. He cited the example of former Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who was linked to fraud allegations but has not been pursued since aligning with the ruling party. According to him, this has sent a message that joining the APC offers protection from accountability.

He also referenced Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was reportedly prevented by police from entering the National Assembly despite a court order in her favor. He said such acts violate democratic norms and contribute to a growing climate of fear and disunity.

The former minister linked the current state of insecurity, mistrust, and lack of cohesion in the country to the leadership approach of the Tinubu administration. He claimed Tinubu has deliberately sown divisions between regions, including the North Central and North West, as well as the South East and South South, for his own benefit.

Lamido urged Nigerians not to accept what he described as an emerging one-man rule, calling on citizens to push back against efforts to weaken democratic institutions and force political alignment with the APC.

He also addressed the push by some politicians to form a new coalition ahead of the 2027 elections. Lamido said he has stayed away from such moves because they are based on personal ambitions, not genuine political vision. He argued that any meaningful coalition must be focused on democracy, unity, stability, security, and economic growth—not revenge or desperation for power.

While commenting on growing calls for the creation of new states, Lamido described the idea as legitimate but misplaced. He said the country is facing more urgent issues, including insecurity, hunger, and poverty, and questioned whether state creation would solve any of these.

In response, a Kaduna-based APC leader, Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje, fired back at Lamido, accusing him of deflecting blame for the PDP’s decline. Alawuje claimed that the PDP was never rooted in democratic principles and that many of its founding members prioritized personal interest over national progress. He argued that Tinubu is focused on rebuilding Nigeria, not reviving what he called a party that collapsed under its own weight.

The exchange reflects ongoing political tensions as Nigeria inches closer to another election cycle, with both ruling and opposition parties trading accusations over the country’s direction and the fate of its democracy.