Mustapha Sule Lamido has secured the Peoples Democratic Party nomination for Jigawa State governorship in the 2027 election, positioning himself as the party's flag-bearer in the northwest state.
Lamido, a former governor who left office in 2015, clinched the ticket at the PDP primary election. His return to the political arena marks a significant moment for the party in Jigawa, where it has struggled to maintain relevance against the ruling All Progressives Congress.
At the primary, Lamido promised to rebuild Jigawa and tackle the major problems facing residents. He did not specify the exact challenges in his initial remarks, but his campaign has centred on restoring state institutions and improving the lives of ordinary people. The former governor's experience in the state, where he served two terms, gives him name recognition among voters who remember his administration.
Lamido's emergence as the PDP candidate sets up a contest between the opposition and Governor Uba Sani of the APC, who is constitutionally barred from seeking another term in 2027. The PDP has not won a gubernatorial election in Jigawa since 2015, when it lost control of the state.
The party's choice of Lamido reflects confidence in his ability to recapture the governorship, though it also signals that the PDP may rely on past success rather than new voices. Some party members had hoped for younger candidates to emerge from the primary, but Lamido's victory suggests the delegates preferred his experience and track record.
Lamido will now face the task of uniting PDP members who may have supported other candidates during the primary. He has begun reaching out to defeated aspirants to build party unity ahead of the general election campaign.
The 2027 gubernatorial election in Jigawa is scheduled for March 11, 2027, alongside other state elections across Nigeria. Lamido's campaign will officially begin after the announcement of the election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
