A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has called on party elder, Chief Bode George, to return to what it described as the party’s “mainstream leadership structure” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The appeal was made by the faction’s State Organising Secretary, Mr Hakeem Olalemi, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.
Chief George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, is currently aligned with the Dr Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, which is associated with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde. He has also been a vocal critic of Wike since the emergence of the party’s internal leadership crisis.
Despite the political differences, Olalemi insisted that George remains a key figure within the PDP family and should not be sidelined.
He described the elder statesman as a foundational member of the party whose experience and political weight are still valuable to the PDP’s future.
“Chief Bode George is always welcome in the PDP. We respect him greatly and there is space for him in the party,” Olalemi said.
According to him, ongoing disagreements within the party should not be allowed to fracture unity, stressing that reconciliation remains part of the PDP’s political culture.
He added that the party operates as a “family” where internal disputes are eventually resolved.
“The PDP is a family. We may discipline with one hand and reconcile with the other. That is how we have stayed together over the years,” he said.
Olalemi further stated that the faction recognises the Alhaji Abdurahman Mohammed-led National Working Committee and urged members to rally around it in preparation for 2027 and beyond.
He dismissed concerns about the rise of other opposition groups in Lagos, describing them as politically weak and unable to challenge the PDP’s structure in the state.
“There is no opposition in Lagos except the PDP,” he said, adding that rival parties lack the structure and experience to compete effectively.
He also claimed that the party is already rebuilding and strengthening its grassroots network across wards, local government areas, and zones in preparation for the next general election.
“We are ready for 2027. We are restructuring and mobilising at all levels. PDP is everywhere in Lagos,” Olalemi said.
He expressed confidence that many politicians who had left the party would eventually return, arguing that the PDP remains the strongest political structure in the state.