|By Adejumo Adekunle and Awaji -Ichiem
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of attempting to influence the selection of governorship candidates in both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP in Rivers State.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Wednesday, George described the alleged interference as troubling and warned it could destabilise both the party and the wider political landscape if left unchecked.
He also expressed concern over the prolonged crisis within the PDP, describing the situation as unprecedented and a direct threat to party cohesion.
George criticised members aligned with Wike’s faction, accusing them of flouting internal party rules and procedures despite efforts to resolve the dispute.
He recalled that the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan had directed aggrieved parties to convene a meeting to resolve their differences, but said those involved ignored the directive.
According to him, the matter escalated to the Supreme Court, which upheld the suspension of three members of the party’s National Working Committee.
George questioned the refusal of those affected to accept the ruling, insisting that no individual is above the law.
“The point is you can only lead a horse to water, you cannot force it to drink,” he said. “There is a political party with established rules and procedures. If members refuse to abide by them, then they become agents of disruption.”
He stressed that the authority of the Supreme Court must be respected, noting that even in established democracies, the rule of law remains supreme.
George further alleged that Wike, despite identifying as a PDP member, was influencing candidate selection across party lines in Rivers State.
“A man who claims to belong to our party is nominating candidates for both APC and PDP. What kind of politics is this? I have never seen anything like it,” he said.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, warning that unchecked political interference could trigger wider instability.
George also cautioned against a repeat of historical political crises, referencing the unrest in the Western Region in 1962, and warned that early signs of instability must not be ignored.
