PDP to Bode George: Party has moved beyond self appointed leaders

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly criticised former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George, over his recent comments against the party’s leadership, insisting that the era of a few influential figures determining its direction has ended.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, the PDP described George’s television interview as the reaction of someone unwilling to accept the party’s current direction.

It said the party had moved beyond what it called the era of “self appointed power brokers.”

According to the statement, George’s remarks reflected frustration over the emergence of a leadership focused on internal democracy, transparency and generational renewal.

The party argued that his appearance on television was marked by anger, resentment and personal attacks instead of constructive contributions to national and party affairs.

The PDP said a politician of George’s age and experience should have demonstrated restraint and statesmanship, adding that his comments fell below the standard expected of an elder statesman.

Defending its National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, the party said he had provided inclusive and transparent leadership despite inheriting political and legal challenges.

It also credited the current leadership with conducting what it described as one of the smoothest primary election processes in the party’s recent history, creating opportunities for thousands of members seeking elective offices ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The opposition party dismissed George’s criticism as an attempt to undermine efforts aimed at repositioning the PDP.

On the lingering legal disputes within the party, the PDP maintained that the courts had already settled the issues surrounding its leadership.

It said judgments delivered by the trial courts, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court remained valid and binding, adding that the recognition of Abdulrahman Mohammed as National Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) followed compliance with existing court decisions.

The party stressed that while George and others were free to pursue lawful legal remedies, they could not overturn judicial pronouncements through media appearances.

“The facts remain sacred, and no amount of rhetoric can alter the settled legal position,” the statement said.

The PDP also accused George of resisting generational renewal within the party, arguing that every enduring political institution must create opportunities for younger leaders instead of allowing a few individuals to dominate its affairs indefinitely.

It further questioned George’s political record in Lagos State, claiming that despite spending more than two decades in the PDP, he failed to deliver electoral victories for the party in the state.

It added that he was eventually expelled from the party for misconduct, a decision it claimed he acknowledged during the television interview.

The party also criticised George over his widely publicised promise to relocate to Ghana if President Bola Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election, noting that although he made the declaration repeatedly before and after the election, he never fulfilled it.

According to the PDP, the inconsistency weakened the credibility of his criticism of both the party leadership and national issues.

The statement also reminded George of what it described as an existing court order awarding costs of ₦10 million against him and his co plaintiffs in a lawsuit the party described as frivolous and vexatious, insisting that compliance with the order remained a legal obligation.

Reaffirming its commitment to internal discipline, the PDP said sanctions or expulsions could only be reviewed through the constitutional processes of the party and not through media campaigns or public criticism.

The party said it would continue to defend the integrity of its decisions, the authority of its duly constituted organs and the rule of law while focusing on preparations for the 2027 general elections.

“History is moving forward. The PDP is moving forward. Those unwilling to embrace that reality are free to remain behind,” the statement concluded.