In a bold statement, Chief Bode George, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has warned that the party’s future is at risk if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar secures the PDP ticket for the 2027 presidential election.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, April 14, 2025, the octogenarian strongly condemned Atiku’s previous attempts to manipulate the party’s processes, claiming that if Atiku secures the ticket once again, “that is the end of this party.”
“If he 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 remarked, emphasizing his opposition to Atiku’s potential comeback.
Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2023, came second in the race behind Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The former vice president has been a perennial contender for the presidency for over three decades and has contested for the top seat six times.
PDP Governors Reject Atiku’s Coalition Efforts
Recently, Atiku has been at the forefront of forming an inter-party coalition, alongside key opposition figures such as former Anambra Governor Peter Obi and ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The coalition, announced in March 2025, seeks to challenge the Tinubu administration, which has faced severe criticism for poor economic management and rising living costs.
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However, in a direct contradiction to Atiku’s plans, PDP governors rejected the idea of a coalition, reaffirming their commitment to the party’s independence and insisting there would be no mergers for the upcoming election. George praised the governors for their foresight in opposing the alliance, highlighting that Atiku’s leadership role within the party remains questionable.
Southern Candidate Doctrine for 2027
A central point of contention for George is the longstanding PDP doctrine, which calls for a rotation of the presidency between the North and South. According to George, the South must produce the next presidential candidate following eight years of northern leadership under President Muhammadu Buhari and President Tinubu.
“There are rules. Section 7, Sub-section 3C of our constitution states that once the presidential candidate has been in the South for eight years, it had to go to the North,” George explained. “Is Atiku from the South-West, South-South or South-East?” he asked, reinforcing his stance that the PDP’s next flag-bearer should be from the South.
George concluded by affirming his desire for a southern candidate to lead the PDP to victory in 2027, reiterating his strong opposition to Tinubu’s re-election and stressing that the PDP must prioritize its internal unity and regional balance in selecting its next candidate.