Bode George frowns at court’s stoppage of PDP convention, labels verdict ‘Threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability’

Bode George added, “Judges are not politicians. Their duty is to interpret the law, not to meddle in party administration.”

By Kehinde Okeowo

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) member and ex-Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Bode George, has faulted a court’s verdict that stopped his party from proceeding with its forthcoming national convention.

On Friday, a Federal High Court judge in Abuja, Justice James Omotosho, barred the PDP from holding its convention slated for November 15 and November 16 in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

While delivering the judgment, the judge held that the main opposition party failed to comply with relevant conditions and laws for conducting the convention.

Justice Omotosho challenged the legality of the convention, stating that evidence from the electoral umpire and some respondents showed that congresses were not held in some states of the federation, which was a breach of the law.

Reacting to the verdict, George said the ruling was shocking and dangerous for Nigeria’s democratic stability, warning that it could set a troubling precedent.

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He added that political parties must be allowed to manage their internal affairs without undue judicial interference, except in clear cases of constitutional breach.

He went on to sarcastically urge the judge presiding on the case to resign and join politics.

Speaking via a statement, George said, “This judgment will consume this country. This is a threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability. It is time the judge removed his wig and gown and joined politics.”

He also appealed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council to address what he termed an unjustifiable intervention capable of triggering disorder.

“Judges are not politicians. Their duty is to interpret the law, not to meddle in party administration,” George added.