Tinubu Intimidating Opposition Ahead of 2027 – Sule Lamido Alleges Abuse of Power, Undermining of Democracy
In a scathing political broadside that has ignited fierce reactions across Nigeria’s political landscape, former Jigawa State Governor and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) elder statesman, Sule Lamido, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of weaponizing state institutions to silence the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking to a group of journalists at a media interaction in Kano, Lamido didn’t hold back. He alleged that the current administration was deploying a dangerous mix of divide-and-rule tactics, selective prosecution, and intimidation through state agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to dismantle opposition voices and destabilize Nigeria’s democratic order.
“President Tinubu is running a government that cannot tolerate criticism. Opposition figures are being hunted, framed, or coerced into submission using agencies that are supposed to be neutral,” Lamido charged.
At the heart of Lamido’s accusations is a pattern he claims has become impossible to ignore. Using the example of former Delta State Governor and PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, Lamido described what he called a “transactional clearance” system being implemented under Tinubu.
“Okowa, who was facing N1.3 trillion corruption allegations, suddenly finds peace the moment he aligns with the APC. No EFCC, no case, no court. It disappears. Is this the rule of law or rule of survival?” he asked.
Lamido referenced the infamous quote attributed to former APC chairman Adams Oshiomhole: “Once you join APC, your sins are forgiven.” Though Oshiomhole has repeatedly denied making the statement, Lamido argues that the reality under the Tinubu administration seems to validate it.
“That quote has become Nigeria’s tragic reality. It’s no longer satire — it’s governance by impunity,” he said.
Lamido accused Tinubu of plunging Nigeria into disunity, insecurity, and mistrust through institutional abuse and elite manipulation. According to the former governor, the administration’s intolerance of opposition, lack of transparency, and inability to govern inclusively are pulling the country further apart.
“Nigeria today is on a dangerous path. There is no national cohesion. You can’t have peace when the instruments of unity are wielded as weapons of suppression,” Lamido stated.
He warned that the 2027 election cycle might usher in a new level of democratic regression if current trends continue.
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Addressing growing speculation about opposition coalitions forming ahead of the 2027 elections, Lamido offered a sober analysis. Unlike the carefully structured 2014 merger that gave birth to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lamido said current efforts to form a united front against the ruling party lack the organization, institutional backing, and ideological clarity required for success.
“What we had in 2014 was a coalition of political institutions — CPC, ACN, ANPP, and PDP defectors — coming together with clear purpose and structure. Today’s coalition talk is just individuals holding hands in photographs. No ideological blueprint, no political architecture.”
He emphasized that any coalition that hopes to unseat Tinubu in 2027 must be built on values and ideas, not revenge or desperation.
“You cannot defeat a structured ruling party like APC with WhatsApp groups and hashtags. You need ideals, a shared vision, and political discipline.”
Despite his criticisms of the Tinubu administration and frustrations with PDP’s internal contradictions, Lamido affirmed his continued loyalty to the party.
“I was born into the PDP. I was jailed for it, persecuted, almost eliminated. That history matters to me. I cannot walk away from my own bloodline.”
However, he was clear that PDP must clean up its house if it intends to reclaim national relevance.
“The PDP today lacks the courage to confront its own decay. It is suffering from double-dealing, cowardice, and elite sabotage. There are governors claiming PDP by day and Tinubu’s surrogates by night.”
Lamido vowed to fight for reform within the party, warning that silence in the face of betrayal is not loyalty but complicity.
Responding to past and present allegations of anti-party activity leveled against him, Lamido turned the accusation on its head.
“They say I did anti-party in 2023. But what of 2014 when sitting PDP governors defected to form APC? Was that not the mother of all anti-party movements?”
He criticized what he described as hypocrisy within the PDP, where party stalwarts turn a blind eye to members fraternizing with the ruling government, while targeting internal reformers like himself.
“There are PDP governors and ministers who are now Tinubu’s errand boys, yet they are called party faithfuls. But I, who challenge the rot in the system, am labeled anti-party?”
Lamido argued that true loyalty means fighting for a party’s core values, not conforming to mediocrity.
Looking ahead to 2027, Sule Lamido projected a cautious yet hopeful outlook. While skeptical of current opposition realignments, he believes that if the right political arrangement — built on justice, equity, and the rule of law — emerges, Nigeria could be rescued from the grip of fear, insecurity, and institutional collapse.
“I am willing to support any effort — within PDP or outside PDP — that restores Nigeria’s democratic values and national dignity. But I won’t support a gang-up without ideas, or a movement driven by personal vendettas.”
Lamido emphasized that national security, unity, economic justice, and institutional reform must guide the agenda of any serious 2027 political movement.
“This is not just about removing Tinubu. This is about rescuing Nigeria from cynicism, hopelessness, and fear. That’s the real challenge.”
In closing, Lamido warned Nigerians, particularly the youth and civil society, not to be deceived by political theatrics or empty populism.
“We cannot afford another wasted cycle. Democracy is not about survival of the loudest. It’s about justice, inclusion, and accountability. If we don’t build it now, the consequences will be irreversible.”
He called on opposition leaders to rise above selfish ambition and engage in serious political organizing anchored on principle, sacrifice, and service.
“If you’re looking for a shortcut to power, then you’re not better than the system you claim to fight. But if we can unite around truth, then maybe, just maybe, Nigeria still has a chance.”
Geencee will continue to track reactions to Lamido’s statements, possible fallout within PDP circles, and developments on emerging political coalitions ahead of 2027.