Umar Kyari Jitau Madamuwa, Chief Press Secretary to former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, has stated that Vice President Kashim Shettima’s recent mention of the PDP stalwart during an APC rally in Dutse highlights Lamido’s lasting political influence in the state.
Madamuwa was reacting to remarks by the vice president, who reportedly told supporters at an APC rally that all prominent political figures in Jigawa State, including Lamido, were aligned with the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking to Daily Trust on Wednesday, Madamuwa dismissed the claim that Lamido was backing the APC, insisting that the former governor had already made his position clear.
He recalled Lamido’s recent statement in which the PDP stalwart questioned whether joining the APC would automatically end poverty, hunger and insecurity in northern Nigeria.
According to him, Shettima’s decision to specifically mention Lamido among political heavyweights in the state was an acknowledgment of the former governor’s influence.
”The vice president saw all the political leaders gathered at the stadium, but he still mentioned Sule Lamido. That shows there are people whose presence matters in Nigerian politics and northern politics, and he knows it,” Madamuwa said.
He argued that Shettima’s remarks amounted to a recognition that Lamido remains a major factor in Jigawa politics despite repeated claims by APC supporters that the PDP had lost relevance in the state.
”People have been saying there is no PDP in Jigawa and that Sule Lamido is finished politically. If that is true, why are they talking about him and trying to associate him with the APC?” he asked.
Madamuwa further claimed that Lamido remained the central figure in Jigawa politics, saying his absence from the APC gathering was noticeable despite the presence of other prominent politicians.
He also expressed confidence that the PDP would reclaim Jigawa State in the 2027 elections.
What You Should Know
This news centers on a political debate in Jigawa State regarding the ongoing relevance of former Governor Sule Lamido, a prominent PDP leader. After Vice President Kashim Shettima reportedly grouped all major political heavyweights in the state as aligned with the APC, Lamido’s camp quickly pushed back, dismissing claims that he has defected or lost his political grip.
- Political Insight: The exchange underscores the intense scramble for political alignment and grassroots influence ahead of the upcoming 2027 general elections.
- Potential Impact: While this verbal tussle does not directly affect everyday economic pricing or basic living costs, it highlights how major political parties are fiercely positioning themselves for dominance in northern Nigeria.
