Bode George urges CJN to sanction Judge over PDP Convention ruling

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed its dedication to peace, unity, and the protection of democracy following the recent court ruling that halted its planned national convention.

Chief Olabode George, the PDP leader in Lagos State and a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, made this known at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday.

Reacting to the October 31 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, delivered by Justice James Omotosho, which stopped the party’s national elective convention slated for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, George described the ruling as a “recipe for anarchy” and a violation of judicial principles.

He said the judgment contradicted the Supreme Court’s established position that issues involving the internal management and election of party officials are non-justiciable.

“The Supreme Court has ruled clearly that no court has jurisdiction over the internal administration of political parties, including the conduct of congresses and conventions,” George stated.

He accused Justice Omotosho of “judicial overreach and interference” in the affairs of a lawful political organisation, warning that such rulings could destabilise democracy.

“This is judicial rascality and a clear attempt to truncate democracy in the largest Black nation on earth. The Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council must call this judge to order,” he said.

George also alleged that the ruling emboldened certain security operatives to invade the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, describing the act as “an unlawful operation carried out in concert with a minority faction of the party.”

“The deployment of uniformed personnel into the private chambers of a political party is an affront to democracy and a violation of constitutional rights to freedom of association,” he said.

He urged the Federal Government, the National Security Adviser, and security agency heads to investigate the incident and withdraw all personnel involved in the alleged invasion.

George cautioned against “acts of judicial and political recklessness reminiscent of the Western Region crisis of 1962 and the 1983 Ondo crisis,” stressing that Nigeria stood at a critical juncture requiring restraint and dialogue.

He reaffirmed that despite provocations, the PDP would remain committed to democratic principles and lawful conduct.

“PDP is the oldest and most experienced political party in Nigeria. Since 1998, we have always followed due process in our congresses and conventions. No judge or political actor should attempt to rewrite that history,” he stated.

The PDP leader also accused the ruling party of using the judiciary and security apparatus to suppress opposition parties instead of addressing insecurity and economic hardship.

He called on Nigerians and the international community to stand in defence of democracy, declaring, “As a responsible political party, we remain committed to peace, unity, and the defence of democracy.”