A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Bode George, has warned that the party could face imminent collapse if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar secures the PDP’s presidential ticket for the 2027 general election.
Speaking during a live television interview monitored by The Nation on Sunday, George said the return of Atiku as the party’s flag bearer would signal the “end of the party,” particularly if the nomination process is manipulated as he claimed happened in 2023.
“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,” George stated.
Atiku, who lost the 2023 presidential election to President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has made six unsuccessful attempts at Nigeria’s presidency over the past three decades. In March 2025, he led a high-profile opposition coalition involving former Anambra Governor Peter Obi and ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The coalition aimed to challenge the Tinubu administration, citing economic hardship, high inflation, and rising cost of living.
However, momentum for the alliance waned when PDP governors distanced themselves from the merger talks on April 14. George commended the governors’ stance, describing it as “responsible leadership.”
“I want to thank the governors. They are now thinking. That’s the way to go,” he said.
George further criticized Atiku for what he described as a lack of leadership within the PDP, particularly his failure to intervene in internal crises affecting the party. He questioned Atiku’s legitimacy as a party leader, asserting that his presidential candidacy does not automatically translate to party leadership.
“If he is the leader of the party, he would have waded into it (the crisis). Running for his private interest is different from the interest of the party.”
When asked whether Atiku still had a chance at clinching the PDP ticket in 2027, George was categorical in his rejection.
“He cannot be. 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.”
He referenced the PDP constitution—Section 7, Sub-section 3C—which, according to him, prescribes zoning of the presidency between the North and South. George insisted that the next candidate must come from the South.
While he ruled out support for Atiku, George also made it clear he does not back another term for President Tinubu. Instead, he called for the PDP to reposition itself ahead of 2027 with a candidate from the southern region.
“I am not supporting Tinubu either. But if the PDP wants to survive, it must respect its constitution and give the South a fair shot,” he concluded.
The debate over zoning and party unity is expected to dominate PDP discussions as the 2027 elections draw closer.
