A fresh governance crisis has engulfed the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) as ousted Executive Secretary Dr Dakorinama Alabo George has refused to relinquish control weeks after President Bola Tinubu publicly named his replacement. The standoff has created a power struggle involving allies of President Tinubu and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike.
Presidency Names New Director General
On June 26, 2026, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga announced that former House of Representatives member Abdulrazak Sa'ad Namdas had been appointed the new Director General of the BCDA. The statement indicated that George had resigned to pursue a governorship bid in Rivers State and that all new appointments were effective immediately. Despite this public declaration, George has continued to operate from the agency's offices, holding official engagements and maintaining control over operations and property.
George's Governorship Bid and Return
Records from an APC screening exercise dated May 11, 2026, show George, listed as "Dr George Alabo" at number 65 on a list of 80 screened aspirants, was cleared to contest. He ultimately withdrew just before the primaries on May 21, 2026, stepping aside to support Kingsley Chinda, the candidate backed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. Sources say George returned to the BCDA offices after failing to secure the ticket.
One source told Daily Trust that George is being protected by influential officials, including allies in the FCT Ministry. "It was Wike who nominated him for the BCDA position in 2024," the source said, adding that some backers were working with "powerful officials in the Presidency" to keep George in place without the President's knowledge.
Presidency Dismisses Reinstatement Claims
Supporters of George have circulated posts on Facebook claiming Tinubu reversed his own decision and reinstated George. The Presidency dismissed this outright. Onanuga, in a terse response, stated: "Not true. Namdas stays." The Presidency has flatly rejected any suggestion of a reversal, affirming that Namdas remains the legitimate head of the agency.
George Meets Finance Minister, Denies Resignation
In the most visible sign of his continued occupation of the role, George met Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele last Thursday, appealing for prompt budget releases to fund BCDA projects. During the meeting, he referenced the N50 billion allocation to the agency in the 2026 budget and appealed for timely disbursements to support infrastructure delivery in Nigeria's border communities.
In a since-deleted WhatsApp message to a Daily Trust correspondent, George denied ever resigning, directing the newspaper to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for clarification. "At no time did I resign. I never contested cos I withdrew from the race before the primaries," he wrote, before adding: "An error was made and it was quickly corrected." He deleted the message hours later and did not respond to further inquiries.
BCDA Website Still Lists George as Head
His profile on the BCDA's official website continues to identify him as the agency's serving executive secretary. Efforts to obtain a response from Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to Minister Wike, were unsuccessful. The standoff highlights the deep political divisions and the influence of key figures in the Tinubu administration, particularly Wike, who nominated George for the position in 2024.
