Bode George: Why Abuja High Court Judge Erred on PDP Crisis
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has faulted the judgment of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which earlier halted the party’s planned national elective convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State. George, who is also the PDP Leader in Lagos State, […]
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has faulted the judgment of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which earlier halted the party’s planned national elective convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
George, who is also the PDP Leader in Lagos State, described the ruling as “a recipe for anarchy” and “judicial rascality,” saying the judge acted beyond his powers and interfered in the internal affairs of a political party.
Addressing a press conference on “State of Our Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”, the PDP chieftain said the judgment ran contrary to the clear position of the Supreme Court that issues relating to the administration and congresses of political parties are strictly internal matters and therefore non-justiciable.
“How Justice Omotosho could have the boldness to stop the convention of the only truly democratic party in Nigeria, after the Supreme Court ruled that such exercises are internal affairs of any political party, is an aberration that must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians,” George stated.
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He cited several Supreme Court cases, including Mutfwang v. Nentawe, which affirmed that courts lack jurisdiction over matters concerning party congresses or the election of internal party officers.
According to George, Justice Omotosho’s decision that the PDP violated its constitution and INEC guidelines showed “ignorance of procedure,” especially as INEC officials had monitored all party congresses and raised no objections.
“The judge did not even call INEC officials to cross-check facts. On what evidence did he base his judgment?” he asked.
The PDP stalwart alleged that the ruling amounted to an attempt to destabilise the main opposition party and could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s democracy.
“This judgment has the dangerous capacity to consume this country. It is how the Western Region crisis of 1962 began, leading to the collapse of the First Republic. The same happened in 1983 in old Ondo State, which triggered the fall of the Second Republic. History must not be allowed to repeat itself,” George warned.
He also condemned the reported deployment of security operatives to the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja following the court ruling, describing it as a “direct assault on democratic values and freedom of political association.”
George urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to call Justice Omotosho to order, warning that any judgment capable of provoking unrest must be avoided.
“PDP is the oldest and most experienced political party in Nigeria. Since 1998, we have always followed the law in our congresses and conventions. No judge or political interest should teach us what we already know and practise,” he said.
Reaffirming PDP’s commitment to peace and democracy, George urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against any attempt to subvert the democratic process through judicial manipulation.