The political dispute between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, has taken another turn, with the Lagos chapter of the party launching a strong response to the minister.
The latest exchange followed Wike’s declaration that he had no regret opposing George’s bid for the PDP national chairmanship. Lagos PDP described the remarks as evidence that an old political disagreement between the two men remained unresolved.
Wike, through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, had defended his decision to oppose George’s emergence as national chairman of the PDP. The minister’s position prompted a response from the Lagos PDP Publicity Secretary, Dr Christopher Odianarewo, who accused Wike of remaining preoccupied with George despite his current responsibilities as a federal minister. Odianarewo said the minister’s comments raised questions about why he continued to focus on a former party leader he had described as politically irrelevant.
“Your latest outburst raises more questions than it answers and further exposes the depth of your obsession with Chief Olabode George,” he said.
The Lagos PDP spokesman argued that George’s decision to seek the national chairmanship was legitimate and consistent with the party’s constitution. According to him, George eventually withdrew his ambition when it became necessary to protect party unity and stability.
The Lagos PDP also questioned Wike’s account of his relationship with George during the period surrounding the party’s convention. Odianarewo referred to Wike’s claim that he personally visited George’s Abuja residence after the convention to appease him.
He asked why Wike would have made such a visit if George was as politically insignificant as the minister now portrayed him. The PDP spokesman suggested that Wike’s earlier actions demonstrated that he recognised George’s political stature and influence.
The party also rejected Wike’s attempt to assess George’s political relevance based on voting figures from his polling unit. According to Odianarewo, political influence should not be determined solely by results from one polling unit, arguing that George’s contributions to the PDP and Lagos politics extended beyond individual election figures.
Another major point of disagreement concerns the historical performance of the PDP in Lagos State. The Lagos chapter rejected suggestions that the party became politically irrelevant in the state following its electoral setbacks. Odianarewo said the PDP subsequently won elections and maintained representatives in the House of Representatives, Lagos State House of Assembly and local government councils.
He accused Wike of attempting to rewrite the party’s electoral history by focusing selectively on its losses. The Lagos PDP spokesman also challenged the minister to identify his own political achievements in Lagos that would give him the authority to lecture residents about their political choices.
Wike’s latest remarks reflect his longstanding disagreement with George over the political direction and leadership of the PDP. The minister has previously been openly critical of party figures with whom he disagrees, particularly over questions of leadership, electoral strategy and political influence.
His decision to oppose George’s national chairmanship ambition therefore remains part of a broader political relationship marked by competing interests and sharply different views about the direction of the opposition party.
For Wike and his supporters, the issue is largely about political effectiveness and the ability of individuals to translate longstanding political positions into electoral results. For George’s supporters, however, political relevance cannot be reduced to individual election results or polling-unit figures.
The dispute took a distinctly regional dimension in the latest response. The Lagos PDP accused Wike of attempting to apply what it described as a Rivers State political mentality to Lagos.
“Face your work in Abuja and leave Lagos alone,” the party said.
It added that Lagos had its own political structures, history and political interests. The statement ended with the phrase, “Lagos no be Rivers,” underscoring the party’s argument that political dynamics in Lagos should not be approached in the same manner as those in Rivers State.
Beyond the personal exchanges, the renewed dispute highlights deeper tensions within the PDP over leadership, influence and the direction of the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections. Both Wike and George remain influential figures within Nigeria’s political landscape, although they now occupy different positions within the wider PDP political contest.
The public exchange also raises questions about whether longstanding disagreements among senior party figures could affect efforts to build cohesion ahead of the next general election. For the moment, neither side appears willing to concede the argument.
Wike maintains his position on George’s political relevance and his past opposition to George’s leadership ambition, while Lagos PDP has responded by defending George’s record and questioning the minister’s continued focus on him. The renewed war of words may therefore be less about a single disagreement over a past chairmanship contest and more about a broader struggle over political relevance, influence and the future direction of the opposition in Lagos and beyond.
