“You Cannot Use My Name To Sell A Political Product Rejected By The Public” — Sule Lamido
OpenLife News reports that former Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido, has exploded after Vice-President Kashim Shettima claimed on video that “all the prominent people of Jigawa are with us, including Sule Lamido.”
Lamido has called it a lie to his face. In one devastating Hausa post, he reminded Nigerians that he rejected APC when it was formed in 2014, stayed in PDP when everyone else ran away, and will never use his hard-earned name to sell a political product the public has already rejected. He ended it with one Kanuri word that has now gone viral across the North: “kattuwunum” — a lie.
“Ikon Allah. Ban yi APC a 2014 sai yanzu a 2026?”
Characteristically, that is the question former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, is asking Vice-President Kashim Shettima — and it has set Jigawa politics on fire.
Translated from Hausa, it means: “God is powerful. I was not with the APC in 2014, so why would I be with it now in 2026?”
Lamido has dismissed a claim by Vice-President Kashim Shettima that he and other prominent politicians in Jigawa State are supporting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
And he did not do it quietly. He did it publicly, on Facebook, in Hausa, in Kanuri, and with a word that stings: “kattuwunum” — a lie.
How It Started: Shettima’s Video
The drama started with a Facebook post by DCL Hausa, which posted a video of Vice-President Shettima saying that prominent politicians in Jigawa, including the former governor, were backing the APC.
The post carried the headline:
“All the prominent people of Jigawa State are with us, including Sule Lamido.”
In Nigerian politics, that kind of statement is powerful. If Sule Lamido — the man who built modern Jigawa, the man who has never left PDP since 1999 — is said to be with APC, then APC can claim Jigawa is sealed.
Lamido saw it. And he exploded.
Lamido’s Response: “I Was Not APC In 2014, Why Now?”
Reacting in a comment on the Facebook post, Lamido questioned why he would be associated with the APC, recalling that he did not support the party when it was formed in 2014.
“Ikon Allah. Ban yi APC a 2014 sai yanzu a 2026?”
That one line is history.
In 2014, when APC was formed as a mega opposition to chase PDP out of power, many PDP governors defected. Sule Lamido refused.
In 2015, when PDP lost the presidency, many ran away. Sule Lamido stayed.
In 2023, when PDP lost again, many decamped. Sule Lamido stayed.
So for Shettima to claim in 2026 that Lamido is now with APC — after 12 years of refusing — Lamido says it is impossible.
Lamido also remarked that although the claim came from a Kanuri man, it was not surprising, before concluding with the Kanuri expression, “kattuwunum,” meaning “a lie” or “falsehood.”
In one word, he called the Vice-President’s claim a lie.
“A Loyalist Wrote This In My Defence!”
After the comment, the politician also shared a post of one of his supporters denouncing Shettima’s claim.
He captioned the post: “A loyalist of mine wrote this in my defence!”
Below is the post written by one Auwal Muhammed:
“There’s No Ambiguity where Pragmatics Takes Charge: A Rejoinder to VP Kashim Shettima’s Claim that Lamido is with Us.
“A clip making the rounds by His excellency vice president Kashim Shettima reveals how desperate and manipulative the APC led administration is.”
The supporter did not hold back.
“In the video, his excellency Kashim Shettima was caught claiming that his excellency the former governor of Jigawa state Alh Dr Sule Lamido is with the APC, supporting the candidature of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Such statements reflect deep rooted political blackmail meant to use the likes of Sule Lamido in order to sell a political product resisted and rejected by the public.”
That line — “to sell a political product resisted and rejected by the public” — is now the headline of the whole saga.
According to Lamido’s loyalist, Shettima is not just making a mistake. He is deliberately using Lamido’s big name to sell Tinubu’s candidacy to Jigawa people who have already rejected APC.
The post continued:
“Shettima’s mention of Sule Lamido’s name exposes a hidden motive of APC’s led administration to deploy strategic rhetorical skills to win the heart of electorates by whatever means.
“Unfortunately, this type of rhetoric cannot go unchecked where historical antecedents of people like Sule Lamido serve a pragmatic function.”
“For one familiar with Lamido’s political journey as well as history will outrightly reject such a political statement thereby dismissing it as political blackmail aimed at destroying Lamido’s hard earned reputation of being a consistent politician who has never ever switched to any party.”
“If his excellency Kashim Shettima has been conversant with Lamido’s political dossier, he wouldn’t have made such accusations.
“His excellency Kashim Shettima needs to understand that consistency for Lamido is non negotiable political ideology born out of the desire to uphold moral integrity…”
And then the final declaration, the one Lamido himself endorsed by sharing:
“His excellency Sule Lamido is not in political tryst with any party.
“He is a PDP, remains in PDP and will campaign for the success of PDP from top to bottom.”
Why This Fight Matters
This is not just Facebook drama. This is about Jigawa, 2027, and the soul of Nigerian opposition politics.
Sule Lamido IS Jigawa PDP
Lamido governed Jigawa from 1999 to 2007, then his successor Suleiman? Actually Lamido governed 2007-2015. He built schools, roads, hospitals, and a political structure that still controls PDP in Jigawa today. If he leaves PDP, PDP dies in Jigawa. If he stays, PDP lives.
APC Wants His Name
APC knows that in Northern Nigeria, names win elections. Shettima mentioning Lamido is not accidental. It is a strategy: If voters believe even Lamido has joined APC, they will think resistance is useless.
Lamido’s Consistency Is His Brand
In a country where politicians change parties like clothes — PDP to APC to PDP to NNPP to APC again — Lamido has remained in PDP since 1999. That consistency is rare. That is why his supporters say it is “non-negotiable.”
2027 Is Already Here
Shettima is already campaigning for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term. Lamido is already campaigning for PDP “from top to bottom.” The battle for Jigawa has started, 15 months early.
The Kanuri Word That Ended The Debate
Lamido’s use of “kattuwunum” was deliberate.
Shettima is Kanuri, from Borno. Lamido is speaking his language back to him. In Kanuri culture, to call a man’s word “kattuwunum” is to say it has no truth, no weight, no honour.
It was a cultural jab. A political slap. And it was understood across the North instantly.
What Next?
His response appeared to reject Shettima’s assertion that he was among the influential Jigawa politicians supporting the ruling party.
But the question Nigerians are asking now is:
Will Shettima apologize? Will APC stop using Lamido’s name? Or will this escalate into a full North vs North political war ahead of 2027?
One thing is certain: Sule Lamido has drawn a line.
He was not APC in 2014. He is not APC in 2026. He is PDP. He remains PDP. And he will campaign for PDP from top to bottom.
And nobody — not even the Vice-President — can use his name to sell a political product the public has rejected.
Questions & Clarifications On VP Shettima, Lamido, APC
Q: Did Sule Lamido join APC?
A: No. Sule Lamido has rejected Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s claim that he supports APC. Lamido said he was not with APC in 2014 when it was formed, so why would he be with it now in 2026. He said he is PDP, remains in PDP, and will campaign for PDP from top to bottom.
Q: What did Shettima say about Sule Lamido?
A: In a video posted by DCL Hausa on Facebook, Vice-President Kashim Shettima claimed that all prominent people of Jigawa State are with APC, including Sule Lamido, implying Lamido was supporting APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Q: What does “Ban yi APC a 2014 sai yanzu a 2026” mean?
A: It translates from Hausa to: “I was not with the APC in 2014, so why would I be with it now in 2026?” Lamido used it to reject Shettima’s claim, recalling he did not support APC when it was formed in 2014.
Q: What does “kattuwunum” mean?
A: “Kattuwunum” is a Kanuri expression meaning “a lie” or “falsehood.” Lamido used it to describe Shettima’s claim that he was supporting APC.
Q: What did Lamido’s loyalist say about Shettima’s claim?
A: Auwal Muhammed, in a post shared by Lamido, said Shettima’s claim reflects “deep rooted political blackmail meant to use the likes of Sule Lamido in order to sell a political product resisted and rejected by the public.” He said Lamido has never switched party and consistency for Lamido is non-negotiable.
Q: Is Sule Lamido still in PDP?
A: Yes. According to Lamido and his loyalist, Lamido is PDP, remains in PDP, and will campaign for the success of PDP from top to bottom ahead of 2027.
Q: Why is Sule Lamido’s response important for 2027?
A: Lamido is the most influential PDP figure in Jigawa. If APC can claim his support, it can claim Jigawa is sealed for Tinubu. Lamido’s public rejection signals PDP will fight for Jigawa in 2027 and that the battle for Northern votes has already started.
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