Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, on Tuesday warned against what he described as efforts to weaken the opposition party through the courts and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He spoke in reaction to the lingering leadership crisis within the PDP, saying recent events point to attempts to destabilise the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
George made the remarks following the Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 30, which nullified the PDP national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025.
The convention produced the leadership headed by Turaki with the backing of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. After the ruling, the party’s Board of Trustees, led by Adolphus Wabara, constituted an Interim National Working Committee and retained Turaki and members of the dissolved leadership.
Despite that move, another faction linked to former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and led by Mohammed Abdulrahman with Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary has continued to operate as the leadership recognised by INEC.
The faction has gone ahead with the sale of nomination forms to aspirants preparing for the 2027 elections and also received access to the electoral commission’s candidate upload portal.
At the same time, the Turaki-led group has maintained its own structure and continued issuing nomination forms to aspirants, even without recognition from INEC. The rivalry has resulted in several court cases that are expected to determine the future leadership of the party.
Reacting to the situation, George said democracy was under threat if government institutions were used to interfere in the affairs of opposition parties. He argued that the process of choosing party leaders should not be influenced by political interests or external forces.
He also questioned the emergence of Mohammed Abdulrahman as a national leader of the PDP, saying leadership in a major political party should be built on years of service, loyalty and contribution rather than political influence. According to him, the issue was not Abdulrahman’s previous occupation but the process through which he was being presented as party chairman.
George said the crisis suggested that some individuals were trying to infiltrate and weaken the PDP from within. He maintained that for decades, Nigerian courts had consistently held that political parties should manage their internal affairs in line with their constitutions and the law.
He also urged INEC to remain neutral in political disputes, warning that the commission should avoid actions that could create the impression of determining who leads a political party. He said allowing state institutions to influence party leadership could weaken the country’s democratic system.
The PDP chieftain further warned that governments should not use public institutions to suppress opposition parties, noting that political power is temporary while democratic institutions must remain strong. He added that no administration has the authority to determine who leads an opposition party or who emerges as its candidates.
George called on the judiciary to remain faithful to the Constitution and urged INEC to discharge its responsibilities without bias. He also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure government institutions operate independently and remain free from partisan influence.
He concluded by saying the PDP would continue to defend democracy through lawful and constitutional means, insisting that no individual or political party is greater than Nigeria or its Constitution. He added that the party remains committed to protecting democratic principles despite the ongoing leadership crisis.