PDP Convention: APC Using Courts to Destabilise Parties — Bode George
By Erewunmi Peace
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has criticised the recent court ruling that halted the party’s national convention, accusing political rivals of using the judiciary to weaken opposition parties.
A Federal High Court in Abuja recently issued an order restraining the PDP from holding its national convention scheduled for 15–16 November 2025 in Ibadan, citing internal compliance issues.
Reacting to the development, Bode George warned that continued judicial interference in party administration poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s democracy. He described the ruling as “a joke of the century” and called for intervention from top judicial authorities.
“Weaponisation” of Courts
George alleged that the ruling is part of a wider trend where the All Progressives Congress (APC) uses the courts to destabilise opposition parties, particularly the PDP. Though he did not provide concrete evidence publicly, he insisted that such actions are politically motivated and capable of plunging the nation into crisis.
He urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council to step in and protect multiparty democracy from what he described as “judicial rascality.”
Despite the order, PDP leaders insist the convention remains critical to the party’s restructuring ahead of the next general elections. They maintain that internal party matters should not be subjected to excessive litigation.
The status of the planned convention remains uncertain as legal and political consultations continue. Party officials are expected to either challenge the ruling or seek alternative arrangements to avoid a leadership vacuum.
