PDP Convention: How Bode George's Faction Defied Court Order
Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, feigned ignorance of a suit which seeks to suspend last Saturday's party congress in Lagos, as his faction of the party defied the a court order and went ahead to conduct the congress. A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, had on Friday given an order barring the state chapter of the PDP from going ahead with its congress scheduled to hold on Saturday. Justice Mohammed Liman, had ruled that the interim order was important to protect the outcome of a pending substantive suit filed by some aggrieved members of the party, who feel dissatisfied with the conduct of the ward congresses held by the party across the local government areas in the state on March 3.
He further held that the conduct of the state congress could defeat the outcome of the case before the court, seeking the annulment of the said local government congress for non-compliance with certain provisions of the party's constitution. The plaintiffs were led by the party's chairmanship candidate for Agege Local Government, Imam Akorede while the defendants include Musiliu Obanikoro, Dupe Sasore, Ayo Waddel, Lekan Sobowale, Adegboyega Oyebola, Lanre Osundairo, Tunji Amosu and Wahab Owokoniran.
When asked why his faction of the party defied the order of a court seeking the suspension of the party's congress in Lagos pending the determination of a related case before it, Chief Olabode George answered: "How the hell would I have known that there is a court case against this congress? You are just telling me. How much has (Adeseye) Ogunlewe contributed to this party that he is bringing into the mud?" Some sources within the party claim that Ogunlewe, a former Minister of Works, may have been responsible for the ensuing crisis in the party.
Another source disclosed that many party faithful were aware that the congress held Weekend at the state party secretariat, amidst tight security went against the order of the Court. Meanwhile, Mr. Tunji Shelle, a core loyalists of Bode George, emerged as the new chairman through consensus after the other two chairmanship aspirants of the party withdrew from the race.
The aspirants included Anayo Ebeano, the outgoing State Legal Adviser, and Waliu Hassan, a chieftain of the party. In his speech, Shelle, who now takes over from the outgone chairman, Setonji Koshoedo, assured that he would continue to co-operate with members and stakeholders of the party, adding that his administration would take PDP to "the promised land in the state."