Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has raised doubts over former President Goodluck Jonathan’s membership in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Jonathan has been a member of the PDP since 1999, however he has recently been absent from significant party events, including the PDP’s national convention, when Senator Iyorchia Ayu was chosen National Chairman.
Jonathan lost his re-election campaign as president against President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He had conceded the election and was now acting as a mediator in West African countries that were in turmoil.
However, there are indications that the ruling APC is considering nominating him for president in 2023.
Jonathan has been visiting Buhari at Aso Rock on a regular basis, holding private meetings with him.
The duo’s mingling and Jonathan’s entertaining of APC leaders at his home sparked a public spat between PDP and ruling party leaders.
While the PDP accused the APC of attempting to woo Jonathan, the APC stated that Jonathan is free to run for president on its platform in 2023.
Senator Iyorchia Ayu was chosen National Chairman of the PDP at the party’s convention, however the former president was absent.
“I doubt it; he has not been attending recent activities of our party,” Lamido remarked in a BBC interview when asked if Jonathan is still a member of the PDP.
Lamido also spoke out about PDP leaders’ recent visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, stating they were there to explore methods to find long-term solutions to the country’s challenges.
He said: “Since the coming of Buhari’s administration Nigeria has not been itself as all the foundations for development laid down by PDP are all destroyed by this government.
“We have no peace, no unity, no integrity, no trust and there is abject poverty and we want to change these things. So that is why we decided to go and meet Obasanjo and we did so. We spent at least two hours discussing it with him.”
