Bode George faults INEC’s recognition of Wike-backed PDP faction

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) led by Abdulrahman Mohammed.

Mohammed’s faction of the opposition party is backed by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Checks on INEC’s website on Monday listed Mohammed as the PDP National Chairman.

Other members of the NWC recognised include the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; National Treasurer, Ahmed Mohammed; National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyengikuro; and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN.

This comes a day after the PDP held a national convention at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

At the event, Mohammed and other members of the NWC were elected by the over 2,000 delegates drawn from the 36 states that participated in the exercise.

In attendance were ex-Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former governors Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), among others.

The PDP has been entangled in an internal crisis that led to the emergence of two factions.

While the Tanimu Turaki faction, backed by the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, claims leadership on one side, the group backed by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, controls the other faction.

Meanwhile, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has criticised the recognition of a faction of the party led by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

George described the development as “the greatest joke of the year”.

In a statement on Monday, he reiterated his earlier position that Wike had been expelled from the party and that his faction should not have been recognised by the commission.

George said that the faction loyal to Wike, which elected Alhaji Abdurahman Mohammed as National Chairman and Sen. Samuel Nwanyanwu as National Secretary at a National Convention on Saturday and Sunday in Abuja “are just about two per cent of our party population.”

He said: “What INEC has just done has clearly confirmed what it wants to do during the 2027 presidential election. INEC doesn’t want any other party to field a presidential candidate in 2027.

“I am shocked that Prof. Amupitan assumed office only to recognise a less than 2 per cent of PDP membership, who are only renegades, who have sold the party to the APC.”

According to him, this is unacceptable and  the party’s founding fathers will not be pleased with the development.

George added: “It is a dereliction of civility, legality as well as a shock.

“In the past, some people tried this and they didn’t succeed. I pray this country doesn’t go up in flames.

“INEC has just brought the greatest insult to Nigeria and the Nigerian people by supporting these renegades. We are waiting, I am waiting.”

The PDP leader called on loyal PDP members to wait for the Supreme Court judgement, “which will see the liberation of this country from this shenanigan.”

He added: “The truth must prevail, the will of the people must prevail, not this destabilising approach to addressing governance.

“Everybody who wants to contest on the platform of PDP must be allowed to do so.

“INEC has just given room to Wike and his group to decimate our party.

“I am disappointed that the only political party that has been able to provide solutions to the perennial problems of this country is being dismantled.

“People of like minds and I know that the will of the Almighty will prevail, that the will of the people of Nigeria will prevail. This development by the electoral body will not stand.”

George called for adherence to due process and urged stakeholders to await the outcome of the Supreme Court on the matter.