The Peoples Democratic Party has moved to strengthen its challenge in Jigawa State ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with its candidate, Mustapha Sule Lamido, assembling a campaign council featuring a former Inspector-General of Police, ex-ministers, diplomats and other political heavyweights.
Lamido will chair the campaign council, with Inuwa Muhammad Tahir as deputy chairman, as the opposition party begins preparations for what is expected to be a major political battle in the state.
Former Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, is among the prominent figures on the council, alongside former minister Nuraddeen Mohammed and other notable political actors.
Senator Mustapha Khabeeb will serve as Vice Chairman I for Jigawa Central, while Ambassador Ibrahim Musa Kazaure will oversee the North-West as Vice Chairman II. Yusuf Saleh Dunari was named Vice Chairman III for the North-East.
Other members include Babandi Gumel, Aminu Abdullahi Taura, Salisu Mamuda, Mohammed Abdu Mago, Tafida Abubakar and Nasir Umar Roni.
The composition gives the PDP a campaign structure combining former public officials, political veterans and grassroots actors as the party seeks to regain political ground in Jigawa.
Beyond the high-profile council, Lamido also unveiled a nine-member campaign directorate to handle the party’s day-to-day electioneering operations.
Shehu Liman Wan was appointed Director-General, with Nasir Mohammed as secretary.
Nuraddeen Muhammad will head Strategy and Mobilisation, while Abba will oversee Security.
Aminu Wada Abubakar was named Finance Director, with Umar Kyari taking charge of Media and Publicity.
Umar H. Birniwa will direct Planning, Research, Organisation, Documentation and Venues, while Fahad Hashim will coordinate Youth and Support Groups.
Hajiya Murja Aliyu Garki was appointed Director of Women Mobilisation.
The campaign structure also incorporates members of the PDP State Working Committee, bringing the party’s formal leadership into the electioneering machinery.
Lamido said the structure would coordinate the party’s campaign activities across the state ahead of the 2027 poll.
The move signals the PDP’s intention to mount a broad-based campaign in Jigawa by combining political experience, security expertise, media operations and grassroots mobilisation.
With the opposition party putting its campaign machinery in place well ahead of the election, the composition of the council could also provide an early indication of the political forces Lamido intends to deploy in his bid to challenge the ruling structure in Jigawa.