• Calls for PDP Restructuring
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to abandon his 2027 presidential ambition, stressing that his pursuit could further harm the party.
George also urged the party leadership to take decisive action to prevent the PDP from collapsing.
Speaking at a press briefing in his Ikoyi, Lagos office on Thursday, to mark his 79th birthday, Chief George warned that Atiku’s political ambition might cause irreparable damage to the party if left unchecked.
He emphasized that certain members, including himself, would not allow his “desperation to destroy this party.”
“I am raising the alarm today that our party is at the precipice of a dangerous looming crisis, if pending critical party issues are not urgently addressed,” George stated.
He added, “Our party is derailing, and this is unfortunate because the crisis within the PDP is exacerbating the already existing socio-economic challenges facing the country.”
George, also the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland, emphasized the importance of repositioning the PDP before the 2027 general elections
He called on Senator Adolphis Wabara, Chairman of the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT), to convene a meeting with national elders of the party to chart a way forward before the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for November 28, 2024.
Alleged Double Allegiance within the PDP
The PDP chieftain also expressed concern about certain members allegedly working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections. “Some members have one leg in PDP and another leg in APC,” he said.
He referred to these individuals as “chameleonic characters,” claiming that they were trying to dictate the direction of the party with their unwarranted claims to political and social standing.
“These individuals use exaggerated rhetoric to impress Nigerians and the APC, but they are not loyal to the party. Their actions could cause irreversible damage to the PDP,” George lamented.
A Call for Party Unity and Strength
Chief George advised those contemplating bringing down the party because they did not secure their way to reflect on the example set by late Chief Alex Ekwueme, a founding member of the PDP.
He praised Ekwueme’s integrity, noting that despite losing the presidential ticket to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ekwueme remained dedicated to strengthening the PDP.
“Pa Ekwueme and others founded this party with G14 and G34. They laid a solid foundation for the PDP. Despite losing the presidential contest, Ekwueme did not work for the opposition. Instead, he remained committed to ensuring the party’s strength until his death,” George said.
