Bode George, a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed concerns that the party could face collapse if former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is selected as the presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.
Gatekeepers News reports that during an appearance on the Politics Today program on Channels Television, George, who also serves on the PDP board of trustees, shared his perspective on the party’s future.
“If Atiku were truly the leader of the party, he would have been fully involved in party affairs. The fact that he was the presidential candidate in the last election does not automatically make him a bona fide or permanent leader of the PDP,” he said on Monday.
“If he is pursuing his own private interest, that is entirely different from the interest of the party.
“He (Atiku) cannot be the presidential candidate of the PDP in 2027. I maintain that since the north has had the presidency for eight years, it is only fair and just for the south to have its turn for another eight years. That is the doctrine and foundation of the PDP.
“Now, I can’t say Atiku cannot contest—he has the constitutional right to do so. He can go to any other party and contest.
“But if he picks the PDP ticket in 2027, that will be the end of this party. I want to make it clear: if he (Atiku) secures the ticket (PDP) through any form of manipulation—as happened the last time—we will not accept it.”
Atiku represented the PDP in the 2023 presidential elections but was defeated by Bola Tinubu of the APC. Before the primaries, some party stakeholders, including a coalition of five governors, called for a southern candidate due to the party’s rotation rules, given that former President Muhammadu Buhari was completing his second term as a northerner.
After Atiku won the ticket, support from some party members declined.
As the 2027 elections approach, discussions about a coalition to challenge the APC are ongoing, with Abubakar playing a key role.
However, PDP governors have rejected the idea of merging or forming a coalition with other parties, which may impact their strategies for the upcoming elections.
