Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has rejected claims suggesting that the party’s structure in Lagos has disintegrated.
He described the PDP as deeply rooted and resilient, both within the state and nationally.
The New Daily Prime earlier reported that the PDP was hit by a wave of defections, with several prominent members joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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Speaking to journalists after a PDP stakeholders’ gathering in Lagos yesterday, Mr George dismissed assertions that the party had collapsed.
His comments follow recent defections by key PDP figures in the state, including its 2023 governorship candidate, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, known as Jandor, and the party’s spokesperson, Hakeem Amode, who both joined the ruling APC.
The defectors claimed that the PDP structure had been subsumed by the APC.
Mr George categorically rejected such narratives, calling them “ridiculous” and lacking substance.
Drawing a metaphor, he compared the PDP to an Iroko or Lebanon oak tree, stating that the party remains firmly anchored and capable of weathering any storm.
“The PDP remains strong and intact,” he said. “This political structure is like an Iroko tree—its roots are deep, and it is not going anywhere.”
He criticised the defectors, questioning their influence and contributions to the party.
“Who are these individuals to talk about the PDP?” he asked, describing them as irrelevant and likening their departure to noise without consequence.
Mr George expressed regret over the party’s decision to endorse Jandor in the 2023 election, calling it a misstep.
He insisted that claims about the party’s collapse were deliberate falsehoods spread to mislead the public.
He acknowledged the internal challenges the PDP is currently facing but stressed that they are not insurmountable.
“We’re addressing our shortcomings. The lessons from the 2023 elections are being taken seriously,” he said.
Looking ahead, Mr George emphasised that the party would no longer allow the imposition of candidates.
“There will be no more selection by fiat. From now on, anyone aspiring for office must win the people’s approval through due process,” he declared.
Turning to the political crisis in Rivers State, Mr George urged President Bola Tinubu to restore Governor Siminalayi Fubara to office, insisting that the will of the people must be respected.
He criticised the President’s appeal to the National Assembly for approval of various appointments under an emergency framework, including the leadership of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), the Primary Healthcare Board, and both the Civil and Local Government Civil Service Commissions.
Mr George warned that such actions could erode democratic institutions and promote excessive centralisation of power.
He cautioned Mr Tinubu against empowering the sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), to oversee elections or make appointments in the state.
“The President must not sacrifice our democracy on the altar of political expediency,” he warned, urging Mr Tinubu to focus on pressing national concerns like insecurity, hunger, youth unemployment, and social instability.
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Several prominent PDP figures attended the Lagos meeting, including Senator Motorola Bucknor, Chief Aduke Maina, Dr Niran Adeniji, Dr Layi Ogunbambi, Dr Amos Fawole, and Captain Tunji Shelle (Rtd.).
Other participants included Dr Seye O’Dairo, Alhaji Ismail Abiola, Alhaji Akorode Imam, Alhaja Babs Olorunkemi, Alhaja Tanwa Olusi, Elder John Agbaje, and Chief Ahmed Alashe, alongside members of the PDP Local Government Chairmen Forum.
