Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has refuted claims that the party’s structure in Lagos and across Nigeria has collapsed.
He likened the PDP’s foundation to the deep-rooted Iroko or Lebanon Oak tree, asserting that despite current challenges, the party remains resilient and firmly grounded.
Speaking to journalists after a PDP stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos on Monday, George responded to recent defections by prominent Lagos PDP members, including the 2023 governorship candidate, Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor), and former spokesperson, Alhaji Hakeem Amode. The defectors had claimed that the PDP’s structure had been absorbed into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Describing such claims as “nonsensical,” George insisted that the PDP remains intact and active. “It is absolutely baseless to say the PDP’s structure has collapsed into the APC. Who are these people in PDP?” he asked, dismissing the defectors as politically insignificant.
He expressed regret that Jandor was endorsed by a respected PDP elder during the last election, an endorsement he now views as a misstep. However, George stressed that all political organisations experience tough periods but that PDP’s solid foundation would see it through.
“This party is like an Iroko tree or an oak in Lebanon. No matter the storm, it will stand because of its deep roots. That is why we have survived till today,” he said.
George also addressed internal issues within the party, affirming that the crisis is resolvable. He announced that the PDP would no longer permit the imposition of candidates as witnessed in the last electoral cycle. “We are determined to return power to the people. No more ‘Baba says’ approach. All aspirants must go through proper democratic processes,” he stated.
On national developments, George criticized the federal government’s handling of the political crisis in Rivers State. He called on President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and uphold democratic principles.
He condemned the President’s request to the National Assembly to approve emergency appointments in Rivers State, including members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Primary Healthcare Board, Civil Service Commission, and Local Government Service Commission.
George warned that empowering the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), to conduct local government elections or make key appointments would undermine democracy and concentrate power unduly.
He urged the federal government to shift focus to critical national issues such as insecurity, hunger, youth unemployment, and the erosion of democratic institutions.
The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by notable PDP leaders including Senator Motorola Bucknor, Chief Aduke Maina, Dr Niran Adeniji, Dr Layi Ogunbambi, Dr Amos Fawole, Captain Tunji Shelle (rtd.), and Dr Seye O’Dairo. Others present were Alhaji Ismail Abiola, Alhaji Akorode Imam, Alhaja Babs Olorunkemi, Alhaja Tanwa Olusi, Elder John Agbaje, Chief Ahmed Alashe, and members of the PDP LGA Chairmen Forum.