By Ayo Ayodele
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has been thrown into fresh crisis as a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, accused the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo, of manipulating the process leading to the ward and local government congresses in the state.
In an open letter addressed to the National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee (NWC), George alleged that Koshoedo sidelined party leaders in Lagos and unilaterally determined how nomination forms were distributed.
“It is worrisome that Hon. Koshoedo, who has not been involved in the activities of the party in the state, either financially or otherwise, collected the forms for the congresses and decided to single-handedly determine the modus operandi of distributing them,” George wrote.
The PDP chieftain further claimed that Koshoedo gave forms to individuals who had defected to opposition parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing him of sowing acrimony and threatening the peace of the party.
“By his actions, he has brought about acrimony and a situation that may lead to mayhem, disturbance of public peace and court actions. This calls into question his motive,” George stated, while demanding clarification on how Koshoedo arrived at the list of those who received forms.
The former Deputy National Chairman warned that Koshoedo’s alleged interference was capable of plunging the Lagos PDP back into crisis, recalling that the party’s poor outing in the 2023 elections was largely due to selfish ambition and manipulation within its ranks.
George also accused Koshoedo of disrespecting established party leaders in the state, including two life members of the Board of Trustees (BOT), insisting that Lagos PDP members would not allow such “manipulation and deceit” to continue.
“We are forced to declare him a political persona-non-grata in the state due to his actions. His actions are highly unacceptable, insulting, unjust and unfair,” George declared.
He appealed to the PDP NWC to urgently intervene and ensure fairness in the distribution of forms, adding that members were willing to pay for the documents if that would guarantee transparency.
“The old era of manipulations and deceits has ended. Members of the public are watching the party and our actions should always be above board,” George cautioned.
The PDP stalwart further alleged that Koshoedo’s moves were linked to his rumoured 2027 governorship ambition in Lagos, warning that “a leopard never changes its spots” and that empowering anti-PDP elements would only further weaken the party in the state.
“The fact that he is the Deputy National Secretary does not make him the leader of the party in Lagos, and he should be made to realise that,” George concluded.