A former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sule Lamido, has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reposition itself as a unifying political platform if it hopes to remain relevant in future elections.
Lamido warned that failure to rebuild internal unity could erode the party’s historical legacy and weaken its standing as Nigeria’s major opposition force. He stressed that Nigeria’s current challenges require a stronger, more coordinated opposition capable of holding government accountable.
He expressed concern that ongoing internal divisions within the party could undermine its effectiveness in the country’s evolving political landscape, adding that opposition politics demands discipline and cohesion, especially in the face of rising insecurity and poverty.
According to him, political leadership has increasingly lost focus on governance issues affecting citizens.
“Politics today has become too trivial. Meanwhile, insecurity, poverty, and divisions are ignored. Governance has been reduced to palliatives. In medical terms, palliative is what you give someone who is about to die, just to ease the pain. That is what governance has become,” he said.
Lamido further noted that the PDP’s current crisis goes beyond leadership contests, describing it as a deeper erosion of unity within a party that once played a central role in shaping Nigeria’s democratic system.
He added that the cost of the internal struggles has been significant, particularly in terms of cohesion and unity, describing the situation as a “painful victory” that has deepened divisions within the party.
Responding to questions on the Supreme Court ruling concerning the PDP leadership crisis, Lamido warned that the party risks losing its strategic relevance if it continues to prioritise personal ambition over collective rebuilding.
He called on stakeholders to place unity above rivalry in order to restore confidence in the party and strengthen its role in national politics.