Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has issued a stark warning about Nigeria's democratic future, stating that the country would have an "emperor as President" if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) collapses.

Lamido, a founding member of the PDP, made these remarks during an appearance on Channels Television's Political Paradigm programme on Tuesday, where he emphasized the critical role of opposition in maintaining democratic checks and balances.

"If the PDP collapses, Nigeria will collapse. Where there is no opposition, then there will be an emperor. When the party collapses, then you have an emperor all over Nigeria, and all emperors are destroyed by their greed," Lamido declared.

The former foreign affairs minister highlighted the historical significance of the PDP in Nigeria's democratic journey, describing the party as "Nigeria's history in the last 25 years." He argued that the PDP's role in restoring democracy in 1999 laid the foundation for subsequent political transitions.

"If the PDP hadn't restored Nigeria's democracy in 1999, there was no way ex-military head of state Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress would have taken over power as President in May 2015," Lamido stated.

He further asserted that without the PDP's foundational work in establishing the Fourth Republic, incumbent President Bola Tinubu wouldn't have been able to take over from Buhari in May 2023.

Lamido emphasized that President Tinubu himself benefits from having a strong opposition, saying, "More than anybody, Tinubu needs PDP to be chasing him, to be on his toes, but when it collapses, nobody will be chasing him; he will be chasing himself."

The comments come amid reports of internal challenges within the PDP, including recent news about the sealing of the party's National Secretariat by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, which has prompted an emergency meeting of the party's Board of Trustees.

Political analysts note that Lamido's warnings reflect broader concerns about the health of Nigeria's opposition politics and the importance of maintaining robust democratic institutions as the country continues to navigate its democratic path.