Bode George Says Lamido Misunderstood Nomination Process
A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Bode George, has said former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, acted out of a misunderstanding of the party’s nomination process for its 2025 national convention.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, George said he was shocked that Lamido headed for the courts, insisting the former governor failed to follow clearly stated procedures.
He explained that the nomination guidelines were approved at the last National Executive Committee meeting.
“At the last NEC meeting we had, the date for the collection of forms for those who wanted to contest was stipulated.
“What they are supposed to do and when they are supposed to return the forms were all well stated and approved by NEC. That is the procedure,” he said.
George added that every aspirant complied except Lamido.
“Everybody who wanted to collect forms was live, paid the normal dues, and they got the form. But on his (Lamido’s) own side, he came physically on the very day that the return of forms closed.
“Of course, with his status, if he had called them (NEC) earlier or told them that he wanted to take this form, they would have obliged because of his status.
“But to now take that to court because they didn’t give him the form? That day was the last day to return the forms, so did he do what is right?” he asked.
George assured that the PDP remains intact despite recent tensions.
“I want to reassure you that this party is solid, undivided, and the way things went on, I am hell-shocked that he (Sule Lamido) took the party to court,” he said.
He described the PDP as “an Iroko” and maintained that the national convention would proceed as planned.
“The convention will go on. The court under Justice Akintola has given its own judgment. He stated that the order to continue our operations has been extended till Monday next week and that he will give his own judgement on 8 December.
“The majority of the members of the party know that this party is the Iroko, a political party in Nigeria. There is no organisation that will not have disagreements or debates, all kinds of things,” he said.
Also speaking on the programme, Lamido insisted his lawsuit was not an attack on the PDP but a personal move to reclaim his dignity.
“I went to court not because I have anybody in mind, but I went to get my rights taken by my party back. The issue is just about my own personality, dignity and honour being restored more than anything else,” he said.
He added that the crisis had exposed deep mistrust within the party.
“I won the case, fair enough, but then again, it is also equally tormenting that the case I won is about my party, about our unity, family. A family that was so united and cohesive, with so much love and trust, is all eroded, and we are now simply fighting. And I feel very sad; let the problem be solved,” he said.
Lamido said he could not withdraw the suit since judgment had already been delivered and accused some PDP governors of worsening the crisis.
He also ruled out attending the convention in Ibadan, citing the subsisting court order.
“This is very clear. For someone saved by the court, I can’t go where there is an injunction on the convention. How do I go there again? Am I now renouncing something I gained in the court?
“If I go to the convention, then it means whatever I have gotten has been washed away. There is a certain order from the court which restored my dignity, and therefore I will stand by the court because I am a party man who believes in law and order.
“Therefore, going to Ibadan means a renunciation of what I have gotten. The court gave a very clear injunction that the convention must not hold, so how do I go there? I can’t go there,” he said.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
