Ahead of the highly anticipated July 12 local government elections in Lagos State, elder statesman and former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has reignited grassroots enthusiasm for the party, declaring that the PDP is far from finished and remains a force to reckon with in Nigerian politics.
At a gathering held at his Lagos office on Wednesday, Bode George led the formal unveiling of the PDP’s chairmanship and councillorship candidates for the upcoming elections, delivering a passionate speech that challenged narratives of the party’s decline and reignited confidence among party faithful and supporters.
He declared that, without his personal intervention and advocacy at the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), the PDP may have been unjustly excluded from the polls. He urged the candidates to engage in vigorous, people-focused campaigns and to earn the trust of voters at the grassroots level, stressing that service to the people must always come before personal ambition.
“How can anyone say the mighty PDP is finished? This is the party that laid the foundation of modern Nigeria. Those defecting to other parties need to think again. We’re not just alive, we’re bouncing back stronger,” George said, while encouraging Lagosians to reflect on the performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of failing to deliver on its promises to the people.
Bode George condemned the widening inequality across the state, criticizing the ruling party for presiding over a system where a few live in luxury while the majority suffer. He promised to personally join PDP candidates on their campaign trails to ensure direct engagement with the electorate.
Addressing Nigeria’s worsening economic and security challenges, he called for decisive leadership at all levels of government and urged electoral bodies to uphold their constitutional duty with fairness and transparency. George also acknowledged internal challenges within the PDP but expressed confidence that such issues were temporary and would be resolved in the interest of unity and progress.
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Speaking at the event, PDP Lagos West Vice Chairman Chief Sunday Olaifa reaffirmed the party’s determination to secure victory in the polls, urging members to close ranks and work in unity. He noted that the people of Lagos are yearning for change, and the PDP must seize the moment.
Chief Onikepo Oshodi echoed similar sentiments, insisting that the time had come for the PDP to reclaim leadership in Lagos and nationally. She asserted that the ruling APC had lost touch with the grassroots and would struggle to retain power in the face of rising public dissatisfaction.
Chairmanship candidates such as Awwal Abiodun (Ibeju-Lekki), Olakunle Okekunle (Ajeromi Ifelodun), and several others from various LGAs were presented with the party flag, marking the official start of their campaigns.
The event drew prominent party figures and supporters from across Lagos, including former Deputy Governor Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, adding momentum to what many observers see as a crucial test for the PDP’s resurgence in the state.
