PDP Crisis: Bode George Slams Lamido Over Threat To Sue Party
A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Bode George, has faulted former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, for threatening to take legal action against the party over alleged denial of access to the nomination form for the position of national chairman.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, George said while every member, including Lamido, has the right to contest for any position, it was wrong to head to court without first exploring the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms.
“This party is not owned by any individual. Before taking the party to court, you must exhaust the internal dynamics of the party. If you fail to do that, you can be punished,” he said.
George explained that although the PDP encourages consensus in its internal elections, the arrangement does not stop anyone from contesting.
“This has been part of the practice in the PDP. The fact that some leaders converge to support one person as a consensus candidate doesn’t mean others cannot compete,” he added.
He noted that the consensus option was only meant to make the process more peaceful and less divisive.
“You want to make the process seamless and non-combative. We’ve done this before, but the party has never told anyone they cannot contest. Governor Sule Lamido has the right to compete,” he said.
George reiterated that Lamido was free to obtain the form and stand for election, stressing that delegates at the national convention would decide who becomes the next national chairman.
“He can get the form, fill it, and appear on the convention day. We will vote. That is the practice in our party,” he said.
Lamido had on Monday expressed dissatisfaction after visiting the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, where he claimed he was unable to obtain the nomination form.
He alleged that both the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, said they were unaware of the form’s availability.
“I found it a little weird that the custodians of the system are also being locked out,” Lamido said, suggesting that the forms were being deliberately withheld.
Despite the controversy, George urged Lamido to follow due process and avoid taking the party’s internal matters to court.
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.
