Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has raised serious concerns over alleged irregularities in the Lagos State chapter’s nomination forms distribution ahead of the forthcoming ward and state congresses.
In a petition addressed to the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, and the National Working Committee (NWC), George condemned the actions of the party’s deputy national secretary, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo, accusing him of sidelining the state leadership. “It is disturbing that Koshoedo, who has neither contributed financially nor participated in the party’s activities in Lagos, took it upon himself to collect and distribute nomination forms without consulting the recognised state leaders,” George stated.
The PDP chieftain questioned the legitimacy of Koshoedo’s method in selecting recipients for the forms, pointing out that some forms were reportedly handed to individuals who had defected to opposition parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC). “How did he compile the list of people to get these forms? Does his position empower him to appoint leaders at whim?” George queried sharply.
He further criticised Koshoedo for ignoring the efforts of Lagos party leaders — including two life-members of the Board of Trustees who have been working diligently to build internal consensus. “This unilateral approach undermines the unity of a party still recovering from its worst electoral defeat in Lagos history,” George lamented.
Calling on loyal PDP members to resist attempts to destabilise the party, he warned that Koshoedo’s political ambition for the 2027 governorship must not come at the expense of party cohesion. “We are prepared to fund the distribution of forms fairly and transparently to ensure a just contest. The era of deception and manipulation is over,” he asserted.
When contacted, Hon. Koshoedo declined to comment on the petition, stating, “I have no reaction to it. I intend to focus on the assignment given to me by the PDP headquarters.”
