Sule Lamido, the former Governor of Jigawa State, has expressed his support for former President Goodluck Jonathan as the strongest candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the upcoming 2027 presidential election. He urged the party to “woo” Jonathan back into its ranks.

“I believe that right now, PDP should make an effort to bring him [Jonathan] back; he is their best option. In my opinion, he is the party’s strongest candidate. Anyone nominated by the PDP will receive public support,” Lamido stated during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He described Jonathan as a seasoned leader who has a deep understanding of governance and collaborates effectively with others.

According to Lamido, no current member from the South can compete with Jonathan’s qualifications and experience. “He is welcome, capable, and highly qualified. Personally, I would be glad to see him return to the PDP. So far, with all due respect to other members, I don’t believe there is a better alternative than Jonathan if he joins the PDP,” Lamido emphasized.

“I truly don’t see anyone else. If we are considering awarding the presidency to someone from the South, the PDP is the way to go.”

He added, “Who in PDP right now can rival Jonathan in terms of experience, open-mindedness, willingness to listen, and being a collaborative leader?”

Lamido’s endorsement comes as rumors persist about Jonathan’s potential return to the PDP for the 2027 presidential race. Although Jonathan has kept a low political profile since his defeat in the 2015 election, there are ongoing reports of discreet negotiations and lobbying within PDP circles that suggest a possible political comeback, making him one of the key figures to watch as the 2027 elections approach.

During a political rally in Edo State on Friday, Governor Monday Okpebholo cautioned Peter Obi not to enter the state without prior notification or security clearance.

The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, addressed these recent “threats” from Governor Okpebholo, who is a member of the APC. The governor claimed that Obi’s recent visit to St. Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences, where he donated N15 million for the completion of projects, incited violence, resulting in the deaths of three people.

This warning drew criticism from civil society groups, lawyers, political figures, and many Nigerians who urged the governor to retract his statements and apologize to Obi, the former governor of Anambra State. Rather than apologize, Okpebholo later reaffirmed his stance, saying he has no regrets about the warning and that his comments should be seen as advice rather than a threat.

In his first public response on Thursday, Obi criticized Okpebholo for his actions, emphasizing that Nigeria cannot progress when threats are made. He stated, “What I want us (Nigerians) to always be talking about is how do we build a better future for our society. Our society is not going to work by threatening people.” He made these remarks during an event where he presented a N50 million cheque to his alma mater, Christ the King College, Onitsha, aimed at supporting the school’s infrastructural development.

Continuing, Obi declared that Okpebholo’s threats would not deter him from visiting Edo State or any other state in Nigeria. “I am not afraid of visiting any state in Nigeria, particularly when the purpose is to support causes that contribute to nation-building, such as education, health, and poverty alleviation,” he said.

He expressed disappointment over the governor’s politicization of the issue instead of collaborating to improve the lives of the people. “I went to Benin to invest in a better life for the people. If they have good doctors and nurses, life will be better for them. What I expect the governor to do is to complement efforts aimed at improving society,” Obi explained.

Regarding his donation, Obi pointed out that it was a token of gratitude for the school’s role in shaping him and others into responsible members of society. “This school helped form the values I and many others still hold dear today: discipline, moral grounding, and academic excellence. Supporting it is a way of giving back,” he concluded.

The incident occurs amidst escalating tensions between Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan and the National Assembly leadership.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was briefly held by immigration officials at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Thursday morning while attempting to board a flight to the United Kingdom.

Reports indicate that Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan, who serves as the representative for Kogi Central in the Senate, was halted and informed she could not travel due to her name being placed on a watch list, allegedly prompted by the leadership of the National Assembly. According to a family member with knowledge of the situation, the senator was traveling with her husband to attend her stepson’s graduation in the UK when immigration officers stopped her at the departure terminal.

“She was informed that the leadership of the National Assembly had deemed her a flight risk and requested her watch list status,” the family member, who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons, stated. “We are puzzled by the treatment she received, especially since there is no court order limiting her movement and she has consistently attended all court hearings.”

This incident, which created a brief commotion at the airport, coincides with rising tensions between the senator and the National Assembly’s leadership. Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan is currently contesting the Senate’s recent decision to suspend her after she protested a change in her seating arrangement. She has also accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, a claim he has vehemently denied.

The Federal Government has initiated two criminal defamation lawsuits against the Kogi senator. She believes that influential members of the Senate are conducting a witch-hunt against her, and her associates suspect that Thursday’s incident is linked to this ongoing political struggle.

Witnesses reported that the senator voiced her objections to the travel ban and was seen making several urgent phone calls to high-ranking immigration and government officials. After approximately an hour, she was permitted to board her British Airways flight. “Her passport was eventually stamped, allowing her to proceed,” one witness recounted.

When reached just before takeoff, Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed the incident but opted not to divulge further details, stating, “The aircraft is about to take off.” A family member expressed hope that the senator would not face a similar experience upon her return to Nigeria in two weeks. Immigration authorities have not yet commented on the incident. The spokesperson for the Service, Akinsola Akinlabi, mentioned he would provide an update once he gathers more information.