 Lamido was born on 30 August 1948 in Bamaina, Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State Nigeria.Lamido entered politics as a member of the left-of-center People's Redemption Party (PRP) in the Nigerian Second Republic.He became National Secretary of the Social Democratic Party during the Nigerian Third Republic, where he received criticism for his handling of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections won by Moshood Abiola, who was prevented from taking office.