Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) member, Chief Bode George, has warned the party risks collapse if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerges as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
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Speaking yesterday in an interview on National Television, monitored by our correspondent, George said: “If he (Atiku) picks it (PDP’s ticket), that is the end of this party. If he picks it by manipulation, which was what was done the last time, we will not accept it.”
Atiku, who was the PDP’s flag bearer in the 2023 presidential election, lost to President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former vice president has made six attempts at the presidency across different political platforms over the last three decades.
Atiku spearheaded a major opposition coalition in March 2025, aligning with former Anambra Governor Peter Obi, ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai and other opposition figures.
The group was positioned as a united front to challenge Tinubu’s leadership, citing economic hardship, record-high inflation and a soaring cost of living as grounds for change.
However, despite the initial enthusiasm, the coalition hit a roadblock on Monday, April 14, 2025 when PDP Governors publicly distanced the party from any merger or alliance efforts.
George lauded their stance, stating that it was a sign of responsible leadership.
“I want to thank the governors. They are now thinking. That’s the way to go,” he remarked.
George criticised Atiku for failing to show leadership within the PDP, particularly by not intervening in internal crises rocking the party.
“No, if he is the leader of the party, he would have waded into it (the crisis),” he argued.
“The fact that he was the presidential candidate of the party at the last election doesn’t mean he is a bona fide leader of the party. If he’s running for his private interest, it’s different from the interest of the party.”
When asked if Atiku could still clinch the PDP ticket in 2027, George was emphatic in his rejection: “He cannot be. This is what I am saying. There were eight years in the north, there should be eight years in the south. That is the dictate, that is the doctrine of the PDP. I can’t say he cannot contest; he can go to any party because it is his constitutional right but as far as we are concerned, he cannot be the candidate.”
Citing the PDP constitution to back his claims, George added: “There are rules. Section 7, Sub-section 3C of our constitution. It states that once the presidential candidate has been in the south for eight years, it had to go to the north. And after another eight years, it would come to the south. Is Atiku from the South-West, South-South or South-East?”
Although critical of Atiku’s ambitions, George made it clear he is not in support of another term for President Tinubu either.
Instead, he expressed hope that the PDP can regroup and reclaim power in 2027 with a southern candidate.
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