Bode George rejects call to suspend PDP convention

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has dismissed calls for the suspension of the party’s national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki had on Wednesday urged the party leadership to suspend the exercise and constitute a caretaker committee due to conflicting court orders challenging the legitimacy of the convention.

Reacting in an interview on ARISE News on Thursday, George described Saraki’s suggestion as unnecessary, unconstitutional, and driven by selfish interests.

“You know, in this country, it amazes me the way people roll around purely for their selfish ends,” George said.

“That’s the senator you mentioned, Saraki. He set up the first committee for reconciliation. That’s quite a while. So what has he done? Telling us on the eve of the convention that we should go and form a caretaker committee. I totally disagree with him.”

George insisted that the PDP remained united despite internal disagreements among some members, stressing that the party’s core leadership was functioning effectively.

“The main party is still solidly intact. We are waiting for the ruling of the court in Ibadan,” he said.

He noted that the Supreme Court had previously directed political parties to resolve internal matters through established party organs.

“The Supreme Court has ruled that all party activities should be solved internally. The court said, ‘Go to your party and resolve your issue.’ That’s what the Supreme Court said,” he added.

The PDP chieftain expressed concern over what he described as “terrible attitudes” by certain party members, saying their conduct dishonours the legacy of the party’s founders.

“You know, what is demeaning and what is annoying, what I call existential imbecility, terrible attitudes of these people. I mean, the founding fathers, for God’s sake, will be shaking in their graves,” George said.

George also addressed the controversy surrounding the alleged postponement of the convention, accusing suspended National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu of acting outside his authority.

He said Anyanwu had allegedly caused an advertisement to be published announcing a postponement of the Ibadan convention.

“How many of them are together? Let me tell you this. A few weeks ago, they had the National Working Committee meeting with about 19 members. Only three out of the 19 are in the Anyanwu group. That’s why I said you hear the voice of Jacob, but the hand of Esau,” he said.

Despite the disputes, George maintained that preparations for the PDP national convention were ongoing and that the event should proceed as scheduled.