Vice President Kashim Shettima asserted that Jigawa State has become a consolidated stronghold for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Speaking during a campaign rally in Dutse, the state capital, on Tuesday, Shettima declared that all four former governors of the state have aligned with the party. According to Premium Times, he specifically named Ali Sa’ad, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, and Sule Lamido as key political figures supporting President Bola Tinubu. Shettima cited the administration's infrastructure projects, including the Greater Dutse Water Project and rail expansions, as evidence of the party's commitment to the region.
The claim that Sule Lamido, a prominent figure in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has joined the APC prompted a formal response from the PDP's Jigawa State chapter. In a press statement signed by state chairman Babandi Gumel, the party disputed the narrative, arguing that Shettima and the APC are acting as proxy spokespersons for the former governor. Premium Times reported that the PDP described Lamido as an "iconic leader" whose political career is defined by consistency rather than opportunistic shifts. Gumel stated that Lamido has never hidden his political views or relied on third-party endorsements to signal his alignment.
The PDP referenced the 2013/2015 "G7 Governors" crisis to illustrate Lamido's independent political stance. During that period, five founding governors defected to form the APC, but Lamido, despite co-leading the reform agitation, remained with his party, prioritizing internal party-building over immediate power shifts. The statement argued that this history demonstrates an aversion to political double-dealing. Gumel noted that Lamido's track record, spanning from the PRP era to his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs and two terms as governor, shows he champions causes publicly when he agrees and opposes them openly when he disagrees.
The PDP concluded that the Jigawa party structure remains intact and is ready to follow Lamido's lead. The statement advised the APC-led federal administration to focus on national governance challenges rather than relying on what it termed "phantom alliances." The party maintained that if Lamido chooses to endorse a candidate, he will do so in his own voice, possessing the personal stature and political courage to make the announcement without executive handlers.