PDP chairmanship: Why I support Bode George – Adewale

A former factional Chairman of PDP in Lagos State, Mr Segun Adewale, has said that he is supporting Chief Olabode George for the chairmanship seat of the party in spite of their political disagreements.

Adewale told reporters in Lagos on Sunday that supporting George, a former PDP National Vice-Chairman (South-West) for the exalted party position was the right thing to do politically.

He said that though he had some issues with George in the state chapter of the party, he would still support him for the position.

“I am supporting Bode George to be the next chairman of the party despite our differences. “The disagreements I have with him are local disagreements and not national. My support goes for his national aspiration.

“My support is based on his promise that he would not interfere in the affairs of the party at the state level, which was the major cause of the friction. “Moreover, Bode George is a chieftain from Lagos, “he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that George and Adewale had been at loggerheads over the former’s support for another factional chairman, Mr Moshood Salvador, in the state.

Salvador had, before the resolution of the party ‘s leadership tussle by the Supreme Court, aligned with Chief Ahmed Makarfi, National Caretaker Chairman of the party, while Adewale supported Sen. Ali -Modu Sheriff.

Adewale has, however, pledged support for Makarfi following his affirmation as PDP National Chairman by the Supreme Court on July 12. He had said that the ruling did not affect his leadership of the party in Lagos State.

His insistence to stay at the state’s secretariat deepened his friction with George who said Salvador was the authentic chairman based on the ruling.

The national leadership of the party later directed Adewale to surrender the keys to the secretariat to George. He has complied with the directive.

Owing to the leadership crisis, the party announced the dissolution of the state executive committee at a non- elective congress in Port Harcourt and replaced it with a caretaker committee.

In spite of these, Adewale was present at George’s declaration for the party’s chairmanship position on Friday in Lagos. NAN reports the PDP congress to elect new national executives will hold on Dec. 9.