Lamido to PDP: Embrace Wike-Backed Caretaker Committee for Party Survival​

Lamido to PDP: Embrace Wike-Backed Caretaker Committee for Party Survival

​By Gozu Dauda | Wisdom Tide News | March 16, 2026

​BAMAINA, JIGAWA — In a significant move toward internal de-escalation, former Governor of Jigawa State and founding father of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, has called on party stakeholders to recognize the caretaker committee aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

​Addressing journalists on Sunday during a Ramadan Iftar at his residence in Bamaina, Lamido described the current leadership impasse as a threat to the party’s existence. He argued that the political reality necessitates a pragmatic approach to reconciliation, even if it requires working with controversial figures.

​A "Shrewd" Political Maneuver

​Lamido attributed the rise of the Wike-backed caretaker committee to a leadership vacuum that emerged following the expiration of the National Working Committee's (NWC) tenure. He praised Wike’s strategic foresight in filling that void when the party lacked a stabilizing structure.

​"Wike is somebody who is very, very shrewd," Lamido remarked. "I think he saw through the situation and was able to put in place a caretaker committee. By the time the tenure of the existing NWC elapsed, the only structure available was the one backed by him."

​The Path to Reconciliation

​Despite the friction between the Minister and various party blocs, Lamido emphasized that personal animosity must be set aside to preserve the PDP's heritage. He urged the party to invite all factions to the negotiating table "in the spirit of brotherhood."

​The elder statesman’s intervention comes at a critical time for the PDP. The party has recently faced a wave of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), losing its position as the lead minority party in the Senate.

​Key Highlights of Lamido’s Appeal:

• ​Acknowledge the Caretaker Structure: Recognizing the Wike-backed committee as the current functional leadership to avoid total collapse.
• ​Prioritize Unity: Moving beyond personal grievances to focus on the 2027 electoral cycle.
• ​Adhere to Timelines: Warning that continued legal and internal battles could prevent the party from meeting statutory electoral deadlines.

​"The PDP is a collective institution; it belongs to all of us," Lamido added. "Our duty now is to protect the heritage of the party and ensure it continues to serve Nigerians."

​As the party prepares for its scheduled national convention on March 29, Lamido’s endorsement of the caretaker committee may signal a shift in the internal power dynamics, though it remains to be seen if rival factions—including those loyal to the Turaki-led NWC—will heed the call for compromise.[Wisdom Tide News]