Former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has described the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a political formation rooted in resentment, bitterness, and personal ambition, rather than ideology or national purpose.
In chapter 16, page 421 of his recently launched autobiography, “Being True To Myself”, unveiled on May 13, Lamido criticized the APC’s origins and questioned its credibility as a political party.
A founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Lamido recounted his shock upon learning that some of his fellow PDP members had defected to the APC in the lead-up to the 2015 general elections—a move he firmly rejected.
“I once explained to the public that APC was born out of anger, hatred, and revenge. It has never operated as a serious political platform. Its founding members were opportunists, treating politics as a business venture rather than a tool for national service,” he wrote.
Tracing the political history, Lamido noted that in 1999, Nigeria had three key national parties: the PDP, the Alliance for Democracy (AD), and the All Peoples Party (APP). The AD and APP joined forces to support Olu Falae against the PDP’s Olusegun Obasanjo, who eventually won. That coalition later collapsed into the ANPP, which also failed to win power. It was from these defeated elements, he claimed, that the APC was born.
“The APC distorted history, manufactured a false narrative around a so-called ‘Mr. Integrity,’ and misled Nigerians with an inflated image. Before Buhari was introduced as the face of integrity, Nigeria already had reputable leaders with proven honesty and legacies—people like Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, Aminu Kano, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, and General Murtala Mohammed,” Lamido said.
He also accused Buhari of embracing the integrity label without acknowledging the historical leaders who truly embodied it. “During his rallies in Kano, not once did Buhari recognize the legacy of Mallam Aminu Kano or General Murtala, despite their significance,” Lamido added.
He further revealed that despite repeated invitations from APC leaders to join their camp during internal PDP crises, he refused. Lamido said he believed the responsible course was to stay within the PDP and help rebuild it rather than defect for convenience.
“The honourable path was not to jump ship, but to stay and be part of the solution,” he concluded.