Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Bode George, has warned of an impending crisis within the Lagos State chapter of the party as preparations intensify for its ward and local government congresses.
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In an open letter to the National Working Committee, NWC, made available to journalists, George accused the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo, of unilaterally handling the distribution of congress nomination forms without consulting party leaders in the state.
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According to the Lagos PDP leader, Koshoedo's actions disregarded ongoing efforts by senior stakeholders to build consensus across local governments ahead of the congresses. He described the move as "a recipe for acrimony, mayhem, and potential court casesÔÇØ if left unchecked.
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George questioned why a member who had allegedly not been actively involved in, or contributed financially to the party in Lagos would assume such authority. He expressed readiness to personally fund the fair distribution of forms to ensure equal access for contestants across the state.
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"It is disturbing that Hon. Koshoedo, who has not been involved in the activities of the party in Lagos, either financially or otherwise, collected the forms and single-handedly decided how they would be distributed,ÔÇØ George wrote.
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He alleged that some forms were handed to individuals who had defected to opposition parties, including the ADC, and wondered why loyal PDP leaders, including two life-members of the Board of Trustees, were sidelined in the process.
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"Does Koshoedo's position as a member of the NWC give him the right to appoint leaders in Lagos at his own discretion?ÔÇØ George queried, while also faulting the involvement of Koshoedo's aide, one Senyon, in the direct distribution of nomination forms.
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The PDP chieftain stressed that the party, still recovering from past internal disputes, could not afford another crisis, recalling that its poor performance in Lagos during the 2023 elections was the worst in the history of the state chapter.
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He described Koshoedo's conduct as "insulting, unfair, unjust, and unacceptable,ÔÇØ warning that his continued interference could plunge the state chapter into deeper division.
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"We are forced to declare him a political persona non grata in Lagos due to his actions. We appeal to the NWC to intervene urgently before this matter escalates,ÔÇØ George warned.
