- George rejected suggestions that INEC officials were unaware of developments within the party
- According to him, decisions taken at that meeting, including resolutions on how the party’s national convention would be conducted
- He urged party leaders and institutions to act with restraint, fairness and a sense of responsibility
Growing unease has been expressed by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elder statesman, Chief Bode George, over the deepening leadership crisis rocking the opposition party, as well as the roles being played by the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In an interview aired on ARISE NEWS on Friday,Eko Hot Blog gathered that George said the dispute had gone beyond an internal disagreement, especially in light of recent court decisions and the emergence of parallel party activities.
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He was responding to questions on claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that he had politically outmanoeuvred key actors within the PDP and was now concentrating his influence on Oyo State and Governor Seyi Makinde.
George rejected suggestions that INEC officials were unaware of developments within the party, insisting that representatives of the electoral body were present at the PDP’s duly recognised National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
According to him, decisions taken at that meeting, including resolutions on how the party’s national convention would be conducted, followed established procedures and were properly documented.
He raised doubts over the legitimacy of a separate NEC meeting convened by a rival faction, arguing that those involved were later expelled at the party’s convention in line with due process.
George maintained that the expulsions were based on decisions ratified at the recognised NEC meeting.
Questioning the basis of the controversy, he said it was important to establish whether INEC officials monitored the authentic NEC meeting and were fully aware of its outcomes.
He criticised the actions of those who convened what he described as an unauthorised NEC meeting elsewhere, stressing that the party had already agreed on a clear procedural roadmap for managing the convention.
The PDP chieftain also expressed strong displeasure with aspects of a court judgment related to the crisis, alleging that the presiding judge ventured into matters beyond what was placed before the court.
He described the situation as deeply troubling and warned that abandoning fairness and justice could have lasting consequences.
George said his intervention was driven by concern for the future of the party and the country, noting that while individuals may come and go, history ultimately judges actions taken during moments of crisis.
He urged party leaders and institutions to act with restraint, fairness and a sense of responsibility.
Reflecting on his role as an elder, he said it was his duty to caution those involved, stressing that instability and disorder would affect everyone. “If things go wrong,” he warned, “some of us are too old to run away from the consequences.”
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