Bode George defends PDP against collapse rumors, denounces secretariat blockade as disgraceful, and urges unity.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Bode George, has dismissed suggestions that the party is no longer relevant, describing such remarks as “first-class dreaming.”
As a Board of Trustees (BoT) member, George voiced his position during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme aired on Monday, responding to claims that the PDP is defunct.
No way. Those are dreamers. I’m telling you they are first-class dreamers, George stated. In political management, ownership structure, camaraderie, what we have in the PDP, they don’t have.
He likened the PDP to the Iroko political party of Nigeria, insisting its foundation remains deep and intact despite internal hurdles.
Reacting to the earlier police blockade of the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, George labelled the incident disgraceful. He described being denied access to the premises as similar to being locked out of one’s own residence.
It’s like going back to your home, and suddenly it’s surrounded by police. I thought, ‘What in the globe is happening? he recounted.
George remarked that the episode offered valuable lessons to the party. There’s no organisation in the world without crisis. The most sensible thing is to come back, close the door, speak some home truths, debate, and unite and that is what we’ve done today, he concluded.
Earlier, the PDP moved its BoT meeting to the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja’s Central Business District after police occupied its Wadata Plaza headquarters. This occurred ahead of scheduled National Executive Committee (NEC) and BoT meetings.
Addressing reporters, George denounced the blockade and cautioned the Federal Government against actions likely to provoke a national crisis.
This is our property. Was there any court order stopping us from meeting in our office? Nigerians are watching. You want to turn us into North Korea or Russia? We will not allow it,” he declared.
Despite the disruption, the PDP held its 100th NEC meeting after the police barricade was lifted. Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, announced that the sole agenda was to fix a date for the next NEC meeting, where leadership and convention issues would be addressed.
The gathering ended with a resolution to reconvene on 23 July and reaffirmed Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
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Bauchi State Governor and PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman, Senator Bala Mohammed, told reporters that the police presence was intended to deter miscreants from causing disorder. Nevertheless, several party leaders, including George and BoT member Maina Chiroma, criticised the deployment as intimidation.
Former PDP National Secretary Umar Tsauri claimed the police admitted acting on orders from above.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command denied sealing off the secretariat, with spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh stating that officers were deployed solely to preserve order.
The party’s unresolved leadership dispute over the National Secretary role persists. Both Senator Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye continue to claim the position, even after a Supreme Court judgment in March. Each faction holds differing interpretations of the ruling. A further hearing is set for 22 September at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
