‘Attack Wike Again, Face Expulsion From PDP’, – Doherty Warns Bode George

The factional South-West National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adedeji Doherty, has warned that former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Party, Chief Olabode George, risked expulsion if he continued his public criticism of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Doherty issued the warning while reacting to last Thursday’s Supreme Court judgement on the PDP leadership dispute, describing it as timely and expected.

He stressed that the party would no longer tolerate acts capable of undermining its unity, noting that disciplinary measures would be taken against members who persist in actions deemed disruptive.

“We won’t hesitate to expell Chief Bode George from his ward and local government in Lagos State if he continues to malign Wike in the media again. Enough is enough!”

The factional PDP South-West leader also criticised the natuonal convention held in Ibadan, which he said was spearheaded by Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, without adherence to the party’s constitutional provisions requiring the completion of congresses from ward to state levels before a national convention can be held.

He argued that the exercise contributed to the party’s declining fortunes, likening it to a Biblical harlot who told the King to divide the living baby into two when she knew hers was the dead child just to score even with her colleague who is the rightful owner of the life baby.

Doherty further maintained that those behind the convention should have pursued reconciliation with Wike after the Appeal Court judgement, rather than escalating the matter to the Supreme Court despite tight timelines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of 2027 general election.

Continuing, he criticised Governor Makinde’s political conduct, accusing him of past interference in party affairs.

“I can assure you, no political party worth its salt would admit Seyi Makinde. You claimed you are working for the PDP and at the same time you assembled people at Ibadan claiming that you’re working towards a coalition. Who does that?” He querried.

On the party’s outlook amid the defection of some leaders, Doherty expressed optimism, stating that recent court victories would strengthen the PDP.

“The court experience is bitter sweet pill. It brings an end to the so called factionalization of members,” he added.

He also took issue with remarks attributed to former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, concerning the Supreme Court ruling on party leadership disputes involving Senator Samuel Anyanwu and others.

“The supreme court struck out their appeal. So what’s Senator Wabara talking out? In any case you have the appealant and defendant. How can you say there is no winner when the apex court nullified their ‘amala ‘ convention held in Ibadan?”

Doherty questioned the conduct of some senior party figures, expressing concern over what he described as a lack of decorum.

“It’s unfortunate that some older people won’t respect themselves. How do you now want young people to respect them. Sen Wabara called a meeting of BoT, and he was not there physically. Even Chief George who has made it his rhetoric that ‘the BoT is the conscience’ of the PDP and would take over the running of the party during crisis. Where is that written in our constitution?”

He further alleged that some party leaders were planning to exit the PDP, including Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, whom he claimed had joined the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), while suggesting that Makinde might follow suit.

“Now they are jumping out of the party. Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi has joined Allied Peoples Movement, APM, and we learnt Makinde too is on his way out. If they truly believed in the party, they would have joined hands to salvage it.”

Doherty maintained that unity and adherence to party structures remain critical for the PDP’s stability moving forward.