Bode George slams INEC over exclusion of PDP, LP, ADC from Rivers bye-election
A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, has condemned the exclusion of the PDP, Labour Party (LP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) from the forthcoming Rivers State House of Assembly bye-election, warning that the move threatens Nigeria’s democratic stability ahead of 2027.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed that the three opposition parties will not participate in the February 21 bye-election in Rivers State.
Announcing the decision in Port Harcourt, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) said only seven political parties met the stipulated requirements and were cleared to contest.
But George, in a strongly worded statement on Thursday, described the exclusion as “arrant nonsense, absolute lunacy and tyranny of a despotic cabal desperate to rig the 2027 general elections.”
He accused INEC of abandoning its constitutional neutrality and allegedly acting in the interest of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Is INEC now an arm of the APC?” George asked, alleging a coordinated attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 polls.
He further questioned the legality and motive behind the decision, asking whether the electoral body was positioning the APC for a return to Aso Rock in 2027.
Warning of ‘Dangerous Precedent’
Drawing historical parallels, the PDP chieftain warned that suppressing opposition voices could trigger broader national instability.
He referenced the political crisis of the early 1960s, including the imprisonment of opposition leader Obafemi Awolowo and the disputed Western Region elections that preceded the collapse of Nigeria’s First Republic.
According to George, seemingly minor political infractions, if ignored, can escalate into national crises — a lesson he said Nigeria cannot afford to relearn.
He also cited the recent sealing of the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, which he claimed occurred without a court order, describing it as part of a wider pattern of intimidation against opposition parties.
George alleged that governors and lawmakers were being pressured to defect to the APC, accusing the ruling party of prioritising political dominance over institutional integrity.
“The APC-led Federal Government appears preoccupied with political positioning ahead of 2027, even if it means weakening institutions and suffocating the opposition,” he said.
Call for Reflection
Urging restraint, George called on political leaders to reflect during the ongoing Christian Lenten season and Muslim Ramadan fast, describing the overlapping religious observances as a timely reminder for responsible leadership.
“For the sake of our democracy, our history and our children, the time to act responsibly is now. Nigeria cannot afford another avoidable political collapse,” he warned.
