…Warns looming crisis could derail PDP before 2027 polls
The leader of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George has declared the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo, persona non grata over the conduct of recent ward and local government congresses leading to a fresh crisis within the party.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the PDP National Chairman and the National Executive Committee (NEC) on Friday, George accused Koshoedo of singlehandedly handling the distribution of nomination forms without consulting state leaders or elders.
The PDP chieftain, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, warned that Koshoedo’s actions had “bred acrimony and a situation that may lead to mayhem, disturbance of public peace, and court actions.”
He queried why the Deputy National Secretary bypassed respected elders, including life members of the Board of Trustees, who had been mediating to build consensus among stakeholders.
“Does Koshoedo’s position as a member of the NWC give him the right to appoint leaders at his whims and caprices in Lagos?” George asked.
He further alleged that some nomination forms were allocated to inactive members and recent defectors, leaving out long-standing loyalists.
“The party is just coming out of a period laden with crisis. All loyal members must resist any attempt to drag us back,” he cautioned.
Recalling the PDP’s poor showing in the 2023 elections, George warned that similar divisions could undermine the party’s prospects in 2027 if not urgently addressed.
“We are forced to declare him a political persona non grata in Lagos due to his actions. His role at the national level does not make him the leader of PDP in Lagos, and he should be made to realise that,” he stated.
George urged the National Working Committee to ensure fairness and transparency in the congress process, stressing that Lagos members were ready to pay for nomination forms provided they were distributed openly and equitably.
“The old era of manipulation and deceit has ended. The public is watching the PDP, and our actions must remain above board,” he concluded.
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