The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has distanced itself from a purported state congress allegedly organised on Saturday by a group of elders within the party.
Addressing a press conference in Lagos, State PDP Chairman Philip Aivoji, flanked by some members of the state executive, described the exercise — said to be backed by a faction loyal to former PDP Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George — as “a charade, invalid, illegal and unconstitutional.”
Aivoji maintained that the tenure of the current state executive council runs until March 2026 and warned that attempts to impose a parallel congress would only further polarise the party.
He cited Section 25(1) of the PDP constitution, noting that the recognised state chairman must preside over such a congress, which was not the case in Saturday’s exercise.
“The state exco members hereby disassociate ourselves from today’s illegal state congress, which was hurriedly put in place to satisfy the whims and caprices of a few leaders at the expense of teeming members,” Aivoji said.
He added that some loyalists had threatened to quit the party if the alleged illegality was allowed to stand.
The chairman further claimed that due process was ignored, with nomination forms allegedly handed out to select individuals without the required screening by the state exco.
He said repeated complaints to the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) had gone unanswered, despite assurances that Lagos had been excluded from states slated to hold congresses.
