Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has dismissed a claim by Vice-President Kashim Shettima that he and other prominent politicians in the state are supporting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Lamido responded to Shettima's claim on Facebook, questioning why he would be associated with the APC. He recalled that he did not support the party when it was formed in 2014.
Lamido's comment was in response to a video of Shettima saying that prominent politicians in Jigawa, including the former governor, were backing the APC. The video was posted by DCL Hausa with the headline: “All the prominent people of Jigawa State are with us, including Sule Lamido.” Lamido faulted the claim, writing in Hausa: “Ikon Allah. Ban yi APC a 2014 sai yanzu a 2026?” which translates to: “God is powerful. I was not with the APC in 2014, so why would I be with it now in 2026?”
Lamido also remarked that although the claim came from a Kanuri man, it was not surprising. He concluded with the Kanuri expression, “kattuwunum,” meaning “a lie” or “falsehood.” His response appeared to reject Shettima’s assertion that he was among the influential Jigawa politicians supporting the ruling party.
One of Lamido's supporters, Auwal Muhammed, also denounced Shettima's claim in a post. Muhammed described Shettima's statement as a “deep rooted political blackmail” aimed at using Lamido to sell a political product resisted by the public. He argued that Shettima's claim reflected a hidden motive to deploy rhetorical skills to win the hearts of electorates by any means.
Muhammed emphasized that Lamido's political journey and history made it clear that he would not switch parties. He stated that consistency was a non-negotiable ideology for Lamido, born out of a desire to uphold moral integrity. Muhammed made it clear that Lamido was not in a political tryst with any party and would campaign for the success of the PDP.
Lamido shared Muhammed's post on his Facebook page, captioning it: “A loyalist of mine wrote this in my defence!” This public display of support and solidarity from his loyalist further reinforced Lamido's denial of Shettima's claim. The development has sparked a reaction in the political landscape of Jigawa State.
The incident highlights the ongoing political tensions and realignments in Nigeria's ruling party, the APC. The claim by Shettima and the swift denial by Lamido demonstrate the complexities of Nigerian politics, where alliances and party loyalties are constantly being tested and redefined.
Key points
- Former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido denies supporting the APC.
- Lamido questions why he would support APC in 2026 after not supporting it in 2014.
- A loyalist of Lamido also denounces Shettima's claim as political blackmail.
