Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has likened the party’s resilience in Lagos and across Nigeria to the deep-rooted Iroko or Lebanon oak tree, insisting that the PDP remains strong despite recent defections.
Speaking after a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos on Monday, George refuted claims by recent defectors that the PDP structure had collapsed into the All Progressives Congress (APC). “It is absolutely nonsensical to say the PDP structure in Lagos State has collapsed into APC,” he said, calling such assertions deliberate misinformation.
Notably, the 2023 Lagos PDP governorship candidate, Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor), and the party’s spokesman, Alhaji Hakeem Amode, recently defected to the APC, alleging that the PDP had disintegrated in the state. George dismissed the pair as “caricatures” and questioned their influence within the party.
George expressed regret that Jandor was previously endorsed by a respected party elder, a decision he now considers unfortunate. “Who are these people in PDP?” he asked, arguing that their defection does not equate to a collapse of the party.
“This party is an Iroko tree, like an oak in Lebanon,” he said. “No matter the wind or storm, the Iroko will stand because of its deep roots. That is why we’ve survived till today.”
He acknowledged internal challenges but said the party is learning from its self-inflicted mistakes during the 2023 elections. He vowed that future candidates would emerge through democratic processes, not imposition. “From now on, no more ‘Baba says’ imposition,” he declared.
On national issues, George also weighed in on the political crisis in Rivers State, calling on President Bola Tinubu to reinstate suspended Governor Sim Fubara and uphold democratic principles. He warned against moves to concentrate power through emergency rule.
George criticized Tinubu’s request to the National Assembly for approval of key appointments under an emergency framework in Rivers State, including members of the State Independent Electoral Commission and various commissions.
“This move raises serious concerns about power concentration and undermines democratic institutions,” he said, urging Tinubu to focus on critical national issues such as insecurity, joblessness, and hunger.
The PDP stakeholders’ meeting was attended by prominent figures including Senator Motorola Bucknor, Chief Aduke Maina, Dr Niran Adeniji, Capt. Tunji Shelle (retd.), and members of the PDP LGA Chairmen Forum.
What you should know
Chief Bode George reaffirmed that the PDP in Lagos and Nigeria is still firmly rooted despite recent defections to the APC.
Describing the party as an Iroko tree, he dismissed claims of collapse as false and declared that internal reforms are underway to strengthen democratic processes. He also called on President Tinubu to respect democratic norms in Rivers State.
