A leadership crisis is unfolding at the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) as Dr. Dakorinama Alabo George remains in office despite being replaced by the Presidency with former House of Representatives member Abdulrazak Sa’ad Namdas.
The development comes amid the controversy over the ‘phantom’ Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed all political appointees planning to contest in the 2027 general elections to resign on or before March 31, 2026, in line with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and INEC’s timetable.
George was said to have resigned to seek the APC governorship ticket in Rivers State. While Daily Trust could not independently confirm his resignation, the Presidency announced Namdas as the new head of the agency in a June 26 statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Abdulrazak Sa’ad Namdas as the new Director General of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA). Dr Namdas replaces Dr Dakorinama Alabo George, who resigned to contest for an elective post in his home state.
“A former member of the House of Representatives representing Ganye/Jada/Mayo Belwa/Toungo federal constituency of Adamawa State, Namdas was the spokesperson of the 8th House of Representatives, and an aspirant in the just-concluded governorship primary election in Adamawa State. As a seasoned journalist and public relations practitioner, he also served as Chief Press Secretary to former Governor Boni Haruna of Adamawa State,” the statement published on the State House website read in part.
“All appointments are effective immediately,” it added.
Daily Trust gathered that George refused to vacate office after the announcement. Sources claimed he resigned to contest but never handed over and later returned after withdrawing from the APC race. His name appeared as cleared in the APC screening report before he stepped down.
“Dakorinama George-Kelly has withdrawn from the race for the Governor of Rivers State seat under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, becoming the third aspirant to step down from the party’s governorship contest in Rivers State,” the TVC News report stated.
A source claimed George enjoys backing from some government officials, while another alleged some Presidency figures want him to remain without the President’s knowledge. Facebook posts also claimed Tinubu reappointed him.
“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in his wisdom, has reversed the erroneous replacement of Dr. Dax George-Kelly as the Executive Secretary of the Border Communities Development Agency, BCDA,” one post read.
George later told Daily Trust: “The Presidency through the office of the SGF will be in a better place to answer you pls. But just so you know, at no time did I resign. I never contested cos [because] I withdrew from the race before the primaries. Thanks and have a good day.
“An error was made and it was quickly corrected. That’s the much I can tell you,” before deleting the message.
Onanuga dismissed the claim of any reversal, saying: “Not true. Namdas stays.”
