Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has sounded a serious warning about an unfolding crisis in the Lagos State chapter of the party. This comes as the PDP prepares for its ward and local government congresses.
In an open letter addressed to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, which was made available to journalists, Bode George accused the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo, of mishandling the process of distributing nomination forms for the congresses.
George alleged that Koshoedo collected the nomination forms from the national headquarters and started distributing them without consulting key stakeholders and party leaders in Lagos. He described this move as dangerous and one that could lead to confusion, fights, and even legal battles.
“This is a recipe for acrimony, mayhem, and potential court cases,” George warned in the letter.
According to George, Koshoedo has not been actively involved in the affairs of the Lagos PDP and has not contributed financially or otherwise to the party’s progress in the state. He questioned why such a person would take over such a sensitive task without any form of consultation or transparency.
“It is disturbing that Hon. Koshoedo, who has not been involved in the activities of the party in Lagos, either financially or otherwise, collected the forms and single-handedly decided how they would be distributed,” he stated.
George added that the distribution was done in a secretive and unfair manner, with some of the forms allegedly going to individuals who had already left the PDP for other parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He expressed shock that loyal party members, including two life members of the PDP Board of Trustees, were completely ignored in the distribution process.
Bode George did not stop at just criticism. He said he was ready to personally finance the proper distribution of the nomination forms to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all interested aspirants across the 20 local governments in Lagos State.
He also criticized the involvement of Koshoedo’s personal aide, identified as one Mr. Senyon, who he claimed was the one physically handing out the forms without any official structure or due process.
“Does Koshoedo’s position as a member of the NWC give him the right to appoint leaders in Lagos at his own discretion?” George asked.
He said the way things were being handled showed clear disrespect to established leaders and stakeholders in the Lagos PDP. According to him, it also went against efforts being made to build consensus and peace among different factions in the state chapter.
Chief George reminded the NWC that the PDP in Lagos is still trying to recover from its worst-ever performance in the 2023 general elections. He explained that any further division or crisis could totally cripple the party’s structure ahead of future elections.
“We cannot afford another crisis. Our performance in 2023 was the worst in the history of the party in Lagos. Now is the time to rebuild and unite, not to destroy,” he said.
He called Koshoedo’s actions “insulting, unfair, unjust, and unacceptable” and demanded that the national leadership of the PDP urgently intervene to prevent further damage.
“We are forced to declare him a political persona non grata in Lagos due to his actions. We appeal to the NWC to intervene urgently before this matter escalates,” George concluded.
The PDP has long struggled to establish a strong foothold in Lagos State, which has been a stronghold of opposition parties from the Alliance for Democracy (AD) days to the current All Progressives Congress (APC).
Internal wrangling and factional crises have often weakened the PDP’s chances in elections. The 2023 elections saw the PDP performing poorly across Lagos, with several key members defecting and grassroots support dwindling.
