Former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that using federal agencies to weaken opposition parties could backfire and bring down his presidency. Speaking in Birninkudu after being elected as a national delegate for the upcoming PDP congress, Lamido accused Tinubu and the APC of turning government institutions into weapons to crush political opponents ahead of the 2027 elections.

Lamido expressed concern over the growing number of defections from the PDP, describing the situation as dangerous for the country’s future. “When you use bodies like INEC, the Police, DSS, and EFCC to fight your opponents, you are not just hurting them. You are also hurting yourself,” he said.

He stressed that democracy thrives on strong opposition and warned that destroying political diversity would ultimately harm both Tinubu’s presidency and Nigeria’s democratic foundation.

“Freedom, liberty, and opposition are the pillars of democracy,” he said. “Tinubu thinks weakening the PDP will strengthen him, but he is wrong. Bringing down the PDP is like pulling down Nigeria itself, and eventually, it will collapse on him.”

Lamido remained hopeful that the PDP would bounce back, predicting that many defectors would return before the end of the year. “Just give it five or six months. They will come back,” he said.

“Tinubu and those following him are walking into political disaster.”

He criticized the use of government power to intimidate opposition figures, saying the battle was no longer political but a direct assault by the government itself. “A political party should be able to defend itself,” Lamido said. “But when it’s the government and the president leading the attack, that is very dangerous.”

He also questioned why politicians were afraid of anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC, recalling that Tinubu himself had once faced corruption allegations under former EFCC chairman Nuhu Ribadu. “If Tinubu had been exposed by the EFCC before, why should anyone fear him now?” Lamido asked.

Speaking about his election as a national delegate, Lamido explained that recent changes in the PDP’s constitution made it necessary. “Before, former governors and BOT members were automatic delegates,” he said. “But now, with the number of delegates cut down from about 5,000 to less than 800, my people asked me to contest to guide and support them.”