Election season in Nigeria often ushers in a wave of ambition, open contests, and political realignments. But what happens when the gate to participation is closed, not by law, but by the political establishment itself?
This question came to the fore on Monday, October 28, 2025, when former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, arrived at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat in Abuja.
His mission was straightforward: to purchase the nomination and expression-of-interest forms to contest for the position of national chairman of the party.
However, Lamido reportedly left empty-handed, denied the opportunity to buy the forms and effectively, barred from entering the race.
The development has sparked conversations within political circles about internal democracy, party control, and the influence of power blocs within Nigeria’s major political parties.
In your opinion, why did the PDP refuse to sell the forms to him?
What official reasons has the party offered?AL
What does this episode reveal about the state of democracy and fairness in Nigeria’s political system?
