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Elder statesman and a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, Bode George, has described the recent Appeal Court judgment on the party’s leadership dispute as “absolutely disgusting and disheartening,” accusing parts of the judiciary of undermining justice, fairness, and the rule of law in Nigeria.
George spoke on Thursday, during an interview on Frontline, a public affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, monitored by our correspondent in Abeokuta, where he addressed the landmark ruling by the Abuja Appeal Court that upheld a Federal High Court decision nullifying the PDP’s 2025 national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Recall that the Abuja court barred the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognising the outcome of the Ibadan convention, where Kabiru Tanimu Turaki emerged as national chairman, arguing that the party failed to comply with constitutional and internal guidelines before organising the event.
Reacting to the Abuja decision, Bode George said the judgment was a disgrace to the judiciary.
His words, “There is a Court of Appeal in Abuja that went all and decided on a judgment that I call absolutely disgusting, disheartening. It was a show of shame that legal luminaries who sits down and turns the truth upside down?
“The lady of justice, blindfolded in front of every court, holds a sword and a scale to dispense justice fairly. Because it’s the judiciary in this country, and not the majority of them if some of them will see the truth, then tell lies and swing results, even laymen like me ask: did these people go to law school? What is going on in Nigeria, for God’s sake? There is no justice, fairness, or equity anymore.”
George highlighted that while the Abuja court issued a strict, punitive judgment, the Ibadan panel of the Court of Appeal took a more nuanced approach.
“The same Court of Appeal in Ibadan looked at the case and said, ‘All issues of elected managers within your party are party matters, not for courts.’ They urged parties to go back, meet, reconcile, and return for a consent judgment if possible.
“Compare that with the ruling in Abuja. It’s the same court, for God’s sake. What is going on in this country?” he asked.
George also traced the PDP’s crisis to internal greed and mismanagement, linking it to historical lessons from Nigeria’s past, urging all especially the younger generation, not to ignore history’s lessons and to demand justice in current political affairs.
Speaking on internal party unity, George emphasised the PDP’s commitment to reconciliation.
“We have accepted the directive of the Ibadan court to explore reconciliation. A team has been set up to engage with other factions,” he said, echoing recent moves by the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), under former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, to restore unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We are also prepared to take the Abuja judgment to the Supreme Court if necessary,” he added.
