Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Bode George, has expressed grave concerns about the state of the party and the implications of its leadership decisions during the 2023 presidential election. Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Friday, George declared that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would have struggled significantly had he won the presidency, citing the disarray within the PDP as a key factor.
Reflecting on the internal crisis that plagued the PDP during the election, George stated, “What am I looking for? Let us stand by the truth because it is only the truth that would liberate you. When we had that election, we divided the party into two.” He emphasized that the division within the party was so severe that it would have undermined Atiku’s ability to govern effectively. “If Atiku had won, I would have stayed in my house because I know for real that in the future he would collapse. This country would never accept,” George continued, expressing doubts about the stability of Nigeria under Atiku’s leadership due to the North-South regional imbalance that his presidency would have represented.
George pointed out that the primary reason for the party’s disarray was the decision to tilt the PDP’s presidential candidacy towards the North, disrupting the traditional power rotation that had been a hallmark of Nigerian politics. “If he had won that election, you think this country would have been stable? Because somebody from the north had just finished eight years, and our own norm is that after the eight years, the presidential candidate must come to the south. Those who are running around for appointments, we wish them the best of luck,” George remarked, underscoring the importance of adhering to established norms to maintain political stability.
The veteran politician did not mince words when discussing the role of the former national chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, in the party’s troubles. He criticized Ayu for failing to honor an agreement to step down as chairman if the party’s presidential candidate emerged from the North. “By the time Ayu left, it was too late to solve the problems. He should have left long before the election,” George lamented. He argued that Ayu’s decision to remain in his position until after the presidential primary contributed significantly to the party’s internal discord.
George elaborated on the consequences of Atiku’s emergence as the presidential candidate, noting that it “completely disorganized the norm of the party.” He suggested that the manipulation of the party’s internal processes to favor Atiku’s candidacy was the root cause of the PDP’s current challenges. “The moment we interfered with it, manipulating the whole process to satisfy Atiku, that’s where the problem started. For us to pretend as if there was not a problem, we are just wasting time,” George asserted, calling for an honest acknowledgment of the party’s issues.
Addressing the current state of the PDP, George revealed that the party is now divided into three major factions, making it difficult for the opposition to effectively challenge the actions of the ruling government. “We’ve got some deeper problems in the party. The party is almost divided now into three major sections and it’s not working,” he said, signaling the gravity of the internal divisions.
George also distanced himself from the newly formed Disciplinary Committee, established by the PDP to investigate members who worked against the party during the last general elections. He stated his refusal to serve on the committee, implying that it might not address the underlying issues within the party.
In a bid to address the ongoing crisis, the PDP recently inaugurated a Reconciliation Committee, chaired by former Osun State Governor Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, alongside the Disciplinary Committee, led by High Chief Tom Ikimi. However, George’s remarks suggest that deeper, more systemic issues need to be resolved if the party is to regain its footing and present a unified front in future elections.
