LAGOS — Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has declared that the party will not allow former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to contest the 2027 presidential election on its platform, describing his 2023 candidacy as a “self-inflicted mistake.”
Speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, George criticized the PDP’s decision to grant Atiku a waiver to run in the last general election despite the presidency having just concluded an eight-year tenure under a northern leader, Muhammadu Buhari.
“The 2023 decision violated the party’s founding zoning principles, which emphasize equity and rotation of power,” George said. “It was a grave error, and repeating it in 2027 would be disastrous. The PDP must return to its core values if it wants to survive.”
George warned that another Atiku candidacy could trigger internal disintegration, stressing that the South should rightfully produce the party’s next presidential candidate in accordance with the PDP’s zoning arrangement.
In the interview, he also praised PDP governors for rejecting proposed coalition or merger plans with other parties, particularly those he described as “structureless platforms.” According to him, the PDP remains a dominant force in Nigeria’s political landscape and should not diminish itself by seeking alliances with less established parties.
He encouraged smaller political movements and individuals seeking national relevance to instead join the PDP, which he said is gradually regaining its footing.
George commended the recent PDP Governors’ Forum meeting in Ibadan, saying it gave him renewed confidence in the party’s future and strengthened his commitment to its revival.
“The unity and clarity of purpose displayed at the Ibadan meeting is a step in the right direction. It shows that the PDP is ready to reposition and reclaim its place as Nigeria’s leading political party,” he added.
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