PDP’s Lamido Wins Jigawa Governorship Primary, Pledges Rebuilding

DUTSE — Mustapha Sule Lamido has secured the Peoples Democratic Party’s 2027 governorship ticket for Jigawa State. The son of former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido emerged from the party’s primary exercise as the candidate who will face the ruling APC in the 2027 gubernatorial election.

Lamido addressed supporters after his victory was declared. He pledged to rebuild Jigawa State, tackle youth unemployment, invest in agriculture, and address what he described as decades of infrastructural neglect under successive governments.

“Jigawa has the land, the people, and the potential. What it needs is leadership with vision and commitment. I am ready to provide that leadership,” Lamido said in his acceptance speech.

Jigawa State is currently governed by the APC under Governor Umar Namadi, who pledged to deliver over one million votes for Tinubu in 2027 at the APC certificate presentation ceremony in Abuja. The governorship contest between Lamido’s PDP and Namadi’s APC is expected to be competitive.

The Lamido Political Legacy

Mustapha Lamido carries a significant political surname in Jigawa. His father, Sule Lamido, governed the state from 2007 to 2015 under the PDP. The elder Lamido was a prominent national PDP figure and former Foreign Affairs Minister. His son now seeks to continue the family’s political legacy in the state.

Political dynamics in Jigawa, like many northern states, are shaped by a combination of personal loyalty networks, ethnic and clan affiliations, and the influence of traditional institutions. Mustapha Lamido will need to activate all these networks if he is to mount a credible challenge to the incumbent APC governor.

Furthermore, the PDP’s ongoing leadership crisis between the Turaki and Wike factions creates uncertainty about the party’s ability to effectively campaign in 2027. Lamido’s ticket is issued by the Turaki faction. Whether INEC accepts it as valid depends on how the Supreme Court resolves the PDP legitimacy dispute.

Jigawa’s Development Needs

Jigawa State faces significant development challenges. It is among Nigeria’s poorest states by GDP per capita. Agriculture is the dominant economic activity, with most residents dependent on rain-fed farming. Access to healthcare, education, and clean water remains limited in many rural communities.

Youth unemployment is particularly acute. The state has a very young population with limited formal sector employment opportunities. Many young Jigawa men migrate to Lagos, Abuja, and other cities in search of work. Lamido said his governorship agenda will prioritise creating economic opportunities within the state.

Political observers say the Jigawa governorship race will be an important test of the PDP’s ability to compete in northern Nigeria in 2027. A victory there would give the opposition a foothold in a region that the APC has dominated since 2015.