Former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido on Monday vowed to challenge the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in court after being denied access to a nomination form for the party’s national chairmanship race, accusing northern governors of orchestrating a “booby trap” to sideline his candidacy in favor of consensus nominee Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN).

The dispute erupted at the PDP’s Wadata Plaza headquarters, where Lamido was reportedly blocked from obtaining the form by the locked office of the National Organising Secretary. The forms, according to Lamido’s camp, were being held by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s Convention Organising Committee. “If I don’t get the form, I’ll go to court—simple,” Lamido told reporters, describing the process as “manipulated” and lacking consultation with North West stakeholders.

Lamido’s allies criticized the governors’ unilateral endorsement of Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties, following the withdrawal of other aspirants including Ibrahim Shekarau and Ahmed Makarfi. Turaki submitted his documents at Legacy House on Monday, with his spokesman Umar Sani defending the consensus as a move rooted in “competence and unity.” Sani cited PDP’s history of governor-led leadership selections, calling dissent “ingratitude.”

The endorsement followed a northern stakeholders’ meeting attended by Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Fintiri, who backed Turaki over Shekarau.

Tensions escalated further with the postponement of the screening exercise, originally scheduled for Tuesday, now delayed due to “unforeseen circumstances,” according to Fintiri. A new date is expected ahead of the November 15–16 national convention in Ibadan.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja is set to hear a suit on October 30 filed by allies of Nyesom Wike seeking to halt the convention. National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu’s forgery petition over convention notices has added to the turmoil.

Wike’s faction has rejected the consensus arrangement and is reportedly backing former Benue Governor Samuel Ortom from the North Central zone, citing regional equity following the truncated tenure of former chairman Iyorchia Ayu.

Deputy Publicity Secretary Ibrahim Abdullahi dismissed Lamido’s protest as “drama,” pointing to the October 22 deadline for form submissions. Former National Secretary Ibrahim Tsauri called for a reconciliation committee, stating, “Democracy means majority rules, but we must heal.”

As the PDP seeks to regroup following its 2023 electoral defeat, the internal rift threatens to fracture the party ahead of the 2027 cycle. Lamido urged unity, warning, “Our opponents are outside—the APC. Without an organized house, how do we fight?”