Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has described the recent judgement of the Court of Appeal on leadership issues in the party as “disheartening and disgusting”.

George, who was a guest on a radio programme aired by Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, on Thursday, accused parts of the judiciary of undermining justice, fairness, and the rule of law in Nigeria.

The elder statesman described the judgement that nullified the party’s National Convention held in 2025 in Ibadan as a disgrace to the judiciary.

“There is a Court of Appeal in Abuja that went ahead and decided on a judgement that I call absolutely disgusting and disheartening. It was a show of shame that legal luminaries who sit down and start to turn the truth upside down.

“The lady of justice, blindfolded in front of every court, holds a sword and a scale to dispense justice fairly. Because it’s the judiciary in this country, and not the majority of them, if some of them will see the truth, then tell lies and swing results, even laymen like me ask: did these people go to law school? What is going on in Nigeria, for God’s sake? There is no justice, fairness, or equity anymore,” he said.

He posited that while the Abuja court issued a strict, punitive judgment, the Ibadan panel of the Court of Appeal took a more nuanced approach.

“The same Court of Appeal in Ibadan looked at the case and said, ‘All issues of elected managers within your party are party matters, not for courts.’ They urged parties to go back, meet, reconcile, and return for a consent judgment if possible,” he said.

“Compare that with the ruling in Abuja. It’s the same court, for God’s sake. What is going on in this country?” he asked.

George traced the PDP’s crisis to internal greed and mismanagement, linking it to historical lessons from Nigeria’s past.

“You know what this reminds me of? The 1962 crisis in the Western Region. That was 64 years ago. I was in Primary Four at the time. That’s how it started — tumbling, inquiries, then the first coup, the second coup, and the civil war.

“If you wear that robe of responsibility, it is honourable. But I was so disappointed. The beginning of a crisis can never tell you how it will end. Why are we forcing crises upon ourselves when history has shown us where it leads?”

He urged Nigerians, especially the younger generation, not to ignore history’s lessons and to demand justice in current political affairs.

Recall that the Abuja court barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the Ibadan convention, where Kabiru Tanimu Turaki emerged as national chairman, arguing that the party failed to comply with constitutional and internal guidelines before organising the event.

(Tribune)

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