Bode George Raises Concern Over Exclusion of Parties from Rivers Bye-Election

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has expressed concern over the exclusion of the PDP, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Labour Party (LP) from Saturday’s Rivers State House of Assembly by-election.

George described the development as worrisome and called for clarity on the reasons behind the decision.

According to reports, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced that the three political parties would not participate in the February 21 bye-election in Rivers State, citing various reasons.

The former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP stressed the importance of transparency and adherence to due process in the conduct of elections.

“I strongly believe the question Nigerians should ask now is this: why were major political parties disqualified from participating in the election?

“How can political parties be disqualified in this manner? Nigerians deserve clear explanations on the criteria applied and how the decisions were reached,” George said.

He noted that political parties play a critical role in democratic governance and should be given a fair opportunity to participate in the electoral process in line with the law.

The elder statesman also referenced past political developments in Nigeria, urging stakeholders to learn from history and strengthen democratic institutions.

George called on leaders and relevant institutions to act in ways that promote national unity, fairness and public confidence in the democratic process.