Wike: Bode George Still Angry Over Failed PDP Chairmanship Bid

Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has said former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bode George, remains unhappy over his failure to become the party’s national chairman.

Wike said he had no regret opposing George’s ambition, arguing that the position was not meant for him at the time because it was the turn of the South-South to produce the party’s national chairman.

The minister made the remarks in a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.

According to Wike, George had strongly expected to emerge as PDP national chairman and became increasingly bitter after his ambition was blocked.

“He wanted to be PDP National Chairman and was carrying on like the position was his birthright. We stopped him because it was the turn of the South-South. Since then, he has not stopped being angry,” Wike said.

The minister recalled that he visited George at his residence in Maitama, Abuja, after the PDP national convention in an attempt to resolve the disagreement.

Wike said the visit took place while he was still a sitting governor and claimed that George’s wife attempted to prevent him from leaving the residence before former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko intervened.

He accused George of failing to build a strong political base for the PDP in Lagos State despite the influence and positions he had held within the party.

Wike argued that political leadership should be measured by electoral achievements rather than titles, seniority or claims of being a founding member.

He described George’s record in Lagos as poor, claiming that the former PDP chieftain had failed to deliver his own polling unit for the party since 1999.

The minister cited results from previous elections to support his position. He said that in the 2019 presidential election, the APC recorded 84 votes against the PDP’s 40 votes in George’s polling unit.

Wike added that George later transferred his voter registration to Eti-Osa ahead of the 2023 elections, where he claimed the PDP secured only four votes in the polling unit.

He said the figures showed that George had not been able to translate his long years in politics into electoral success for the PDP in Lagos.

Wike further described George as a failed politician and said the former military governor had continued to attack political figures because of his dissatisfaction with developments within the PDP.

The minister also linked George’s current frustration to the emergence of Deji Doherty as a leading figure in the PDP in Lagos, saying George did not want Doherty to take charge of the party structure in the state.

According to Wike, George’s continued media appearances were unnecessary and reflected his frustration with the direction of the party.

He maintained that political leadership was about the ability to deliver electoral victories and contribute meaningfully to a party’s growth.

Wike said he would not apologise for opposing George’s bid for the PDP national chairmanship, adding that he would continue to respond to his criticisms as long as the former party leader remained active in what he described as political attacks.