Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has petitioned the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, and the National Working Committee (NWC) over the alleged exclusion of the leadership of the Lagos State chapter in the distribution of nomination forms for the forthcoming ward and state congresses by the party’s deputy national secretary, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo.
Chief George in a petition filed by him frowned at the failure of the party’s deputy national secretary’s refusal to resort to the leadership of the party in the state in sharing the forms, describing the move as worrisome.
The PDP chieftain said it was worrisome that Koshoedo, who had not been involved in the activities of the party in the state, either financially or otherwise, collected the forms for the congresses and decided to single-handedly determine the modus operandi of distributing the forms.
Speaking further, George queried how the party deputy national secretary ignored the leadership of the party in Lagos which includes two life-members of the Board of Trustees (BOT) in determining the modus operandi for conducting the congresses in Lagos.
“Surprisingly, he didn’t take into cognizance the efforts of the leaders of the party to build consensus among party members in the various Local Governments, an effort that had already started bearing fruit,” he said.
“How did he arrive at the list of people to be given nomination forms for distribution to the various Local Governments?” he queried.
This was just as he demanded to know if Koshoedo’s position as a member of the NWC gave him the right to appoint leaders at his whims and caprices in the state, alleging that some of the said forms were given to people who had defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other parties in Lagos and were working openly with the opposition.
George, therefore, urged all loyal members of the party to resist any attempt to draw the party, which he said was just coming out of a period laden with crisis.
Besides, he equally urged the NWC to call Koshoedo to order, even though he warned that the party’s deputy national secretary should not allow his governorship ambition in 2027 to destroy PDP.
The PDP chieftain, while making the call, lamented that the result of the party in the last governorship election in the state was the worst in its history, saying it “was caused by self-aggrandizement, greed, inordinate and selfish ambition of some people who claim to be members of the party but, directly or indirectly, continue to undermine the PDP.”
“Never again will we allow this to happen in our state.
“We are firing this early warning shot to Hon. Koshoedo to prevent actions that will lead to political upheaval in the state as it is obvious that his actions are, at best, nebulous.
“He has not shown any sense of decency or loyalty that will convince the people about his behaviour.
“We are forced to declare him a political persona-non-grata in the state due to his actions. His actions are highly unacceptable. They are insulting, unacceptable, unjust, and unfair.
We appeal to you to use your good offices to remedy this situation before it escalates,” he said.
“We are willing to pay for forms to be distributed in an honest, just, and fair manner to contestants across the state to contest for party positions. The old era of manipulations and deceits has ended.
“Members of the public are watching the party and our actions should always be above board. We must be just, fair, and equitable.
“Koshoedo is disregarding party leaders who have been holding meetings in Lagos and, pitiably, honouring those who have long left the party. We are told this is to fuel his 2027 governorship ambition,” he added.
When contacted, Hon. Koshoedo said he had no reaction to the petition, expressing commitment to deliver on the assignment given to him by the PDP headquarters.
“I have no reaction to it, I have no reaction to it. I’d better keep quiet and continue in the specific job and the assignment given to me,” he said.