A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has expressed deep concern over the ongoing crisis within the party, the role of the judiciary, and the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that the consequences of current actions could be far-reaching.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on FRIDAY regarding whether the PDP crisis had moved beyond an internal party matter, George acknowledged that the situation had escalated, particularly following court rulings and parallel party activities. The question also raised claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that he had outmanoeuvred party actors and was now politically focused on Oyo State and Governor Seyi Makinde.
George challenged assertions that INEC officials were blameless. He said if INEC representatives attended the PDP’s recognised National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, they were fully aware of the decisions taken there, including resolutions on how the party would procedurally manage its national convention.
He questioned the legitimacy of a separate NEC meeting held by another faction, noting that those involved were eventually expelled from the party at the convention. According to him, those actions followed due process approved at the party’s NEC meeting.
He said, “Is it a fact that Amupitan went to see Wike? Is it a fact or is it fiction? Now, if Amupitan sent his men to monitor the NEC meeting held by our party, because that’s the procedure, and at that NEC meeting they were present, we decided on what and what to be done, how we were going to procedurally manage the national convention, and it was approved? Where did these jokers hold their own NEC meeting? And at the final convention, they were expelled from the party. Why? Who? You said a judge said they should. The judgment by that same judge, things that were not given for her to decide, she veered out, started talking as if she was in a beer parlor.
“It’s unfortunate that this is the quality of people you have. I am absolutely disgusted. Let us do what is just. Let us do what is right. People will come, people will go. It’s only history that will remind you if you do well, and if you have messed up, creating mayhem, I hope they won’t run away, because if heaven will fall, nobody will escape. The role of the elder is to remind people, ‘please be careful.’
“It just bothers me. I can sit in my house now and allow you, but I won’t be able to run as fast, If things go wrong.”
Melissa Enoch
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