Elder statesman and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Bode George, has sounded a stern warning over the recent amendments to the Electoral Act, cautioning that hasty legislation could destabilise Nigeria’s political system.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on Frontline, a public affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, on Thursday, George also lambasted the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of being disorganised and overly personalised under President Bola Tinubu.
■ Electoral Act and Dual-Party Membership
Speaking on the House of Representatives’ passage of the bill prohibiting dual-party membership, George stressed that the legislation is not yet final and must still receive presidential assent.
“Look, once beaten twice shy, you know, it’s an adage in English. There was some kind of a bill that we were told was approved in the National Assembly. By the time the final product came out from the Villa, how it was signed, people came out and said that was not what they approved. Do you remember that? So, if that is the modus operandi in this country today, I don’t want to start wasting my time discussing this. This is what these people did. This is what they did. Let us wait and see what will come out,” he said.
Chief George explained that the passage of the bill presents an opportunity for opposition parties to study the law carefully and propose amendments where necessary.
“An opportunity presented itself for the opposition party also to look at the electoral act itself and see what it can propose through its members, if they still have any left in the National Assembly,” he said.
■ APC as “Bola Tinubu Limited Company”
Linking the Electoral Act debate to party governance, George criticised the APC for its lack of organisation and excessive centralisation under President Tinubu.
“When was the last time this political party that is in government held a national convention? It doesn’t have to be elective. Just to discuss the camaraderie, the people coming together. That’s what you call a political party. It’s not an individual association. It’s not Bola Tinubu Limited Company,” George said.
He compared this with PDP’s approach, emphasising transparency and adherence to party constitution.
“Now, we have gone out. We have exercised the dictates as stated in our constitution, the party constitution. We went out. We did this. We had a national convention. Covered publicly. The public saw what we were doing. People were happy. Now, tell me, which other political party has done what we did? Which one?”
George argued that APC’s centralised decision-making undermines democracy within the party and distances it from the people.
“If you show that, is it a cult? Is it a secret cult that you can’t go out? Nigerians are itching. Nigerians are itching. They want good governance. They want a smile on their faces. The pain in the public is unbearable. There is hunger in the land. There is anger in the land. And you want to force us through this?” he asked.
■ Governance, Party Discipline, and Accountability
George highlighted the importance of internal party processes and accountability to the public.
“Look, the governor got up and said, look, I’m a governor. I have not seen a copy of the electoral bill that has just been signed by the president. I have not set my eyes on that. Now, you’re talking about another one that he returned. Look, they are playing games,” he said.
He criticised APC leaders for sidelining structures that ensure party cohesion.
“When was the last time this political party that is in government held a national convention? They act as if governance and party leadership are private businesses,” George said.
Throughout the discussion, George drew lessons from Nigeria’s history to emphasise the dangers of political manipulation.
“You know where it ended? A serious civil war. And I remember, I am quoting from my head, the comments made by Baba Awolowo at the National Assembly, because he was the opposition leader. When the Prime Minister was saying they are going to declare a state of emergency in his region, he got up. He said, Mr. Prime Minister, I was there. There was no crisis. One person, a member of the opposition party from Ogbomosho, got up as they settled down to start the inauguration ceremony. He wanted to grab the mace to smash it on the head of the speaker. Immediately, the police arrested him,” George recalled.
He used the episode to illustrate the unpredictability of crises and the consequences of forcing political instability.
“The beginning of a crisis. You can never determine how it would end,” he said.
Chief Bode George urged the public and political actors to prioritise fairness, transparency, and adherence to democratic principles.
“Let us wait and see what will come out. Once beaten, twice shy. Governance is about serving Nigerians, not asserting personal power. History will not be kind to those who manipulate processes,” he said.
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