From Noah Ebije, Kaduna

A youth wing of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), North West zone has described as “false and malicious” the rumours making the rounds on several social media platforms that the highly revered former Deputy National Chairman and leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George slapped the Adamawa State Chairman of PDP .

According to the group, the peddlers of this fake news are not only enemies within the party working to pull down the PDP ahead of the forthcoming 2023 general elections, but also enemies of Nigerians,who are suffering untold hardship under the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

In a statement signed by the Coordinator, Hon. Ahmadu Ibrahim ,the PDP youth wing however called on these ”bad elements within the party to stop blackmailing Chief Bode George now, before it consume them”.

The statement further reads: ” It is unheard of that a former military Governor ,one of the founding Members of PDP and a father figure would descend so low to lose his composure and maturity to slap a state party Chairman .

“Some people sat down somewhere and cooked this false allegation of slapping the State Chairman of PDP in Adamawa to create unnecessary political tension and cause division in the party . We insist it’s false and should be regarded as one of those distractions that would be nipped in the bud.

“Chief Bode George is known as a man of integrity, who has worked hard to ensure the party remains united and relevant , despite losing power in 2015 to APC .

“We would not fold our arms and watch such unfounded allegations being peddled by enemies within the party to go unpunished ”

The group however, called on the former Vice President and PDP Presidential Flagbearer , Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to distant himself from these ‘mediocres’ working for the downfall of our party”.

“We are also calling on members of the BoT and several stakeholders to fish out these elements.

“Our group is working hard to ensure that these enemies are brought to book to serve as deterrent to others,who might want to tow same line in future.

“Despite age, we see Chief Bode George as a passionate leader , who shouldn’t be dragged in the mud for selfish and mundane reasons.”

While noting that PDP is the party that will take Nigeria out of poverty; bad leadership and shackles of underdevelopment, the group urged Nigerians to vote Atiku as the only sure candidate that can rescue Nigeria from chain of hardship .