…Warns against indiscipline ahead of national convention

…Says Lamido must exhaust internal channels before seeking legal action

By Sodiq Adelakun

A member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has issued a warning to former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, over his threat to take the party to court regarding the sale of nomination forms for the National Chairmanship position.

The controversy comes amid the party’s zoning decision, which ceded the National Chairmanship slot to the North-West where some northern leaders have already endorsed former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as consensus candidate.

The PDP’s elective national convention is scheduled to hold from November 15 to 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, with expectations high that the event will determine the future leadership direction of the opposition party.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday night, George said any move to seek judicial intervention without first engaging the party’s internal mechanisms would amount to indiscipline and could attract sanctions.

He said: “Sule Lamido has the right to compete. He can go and get the form, fill it, and appear on the day of the convention. But before you take the party to court, you must exhaust the internal dynamics of the party. If you fail to do that, you can be punished.”

George explained that while the party leaders had endorsed a consensus candidate, the decision did not bar other aspirants from contesting, stressing that the process was designed to ensure harmony and avoid unnecessary conflict.

“The fact that those leaders converged and supported one individual as consensus candidate doesn’t mean others cannot contest. It’s an internal dynamic. We have done this in the past, but the party has never stopped anyone from running,” he stated.

The PDP elder emphasised that the party’s constitution clearly provides for internal conflict resolution channels that must be respected by all members to preserve order and discipline.

Lamido had earlier accused top party officials of blocking his attempt to purchase nomination forms for the chairmanship contest, claiming that offices at the party’s national secretariat were locked when he arrived with his supporters on Monday.