Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has cautioned that the party risks a disastrous outcome in the 2027 elections if its leaders fail to unite and take decisive action against those undermining its structure.
Speaking at a press conference at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos on Friday, George expressed concern over the party’s prolonged leadership crisis, emphasizing the urgent need for internal cohesion to prevent further setbacks.
“We have found ourselves in our current situation due to a self-inflicted crisis. We should bury our ambition now and not allow the PDP to crumble,” George stated.
He urged party elders to intervene and rein in disruptive elements, stressing the importance of equity, fairness, and justice in political decision-making.
“Unless we are united, with equity, fairness, and justice being the pedestal for any political decision taken, this party will be heading to disaster in 2027,” he warned.
As a dedicated life member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), George said he felt compelled to sound the alarm on the party’s worsening crisis, particularly the controversy surrounding the position of the national secretary.
He described the internal struggle over the role as a national embarrassment.
Condemnation of Violence at Party Secretariat
George strongly condemned the recent chaos at the PDP National Secretariat, where thugs disrupted the 79th BoT meeting in Abuja.
“What happened on Wednesday during the 79th meeting of this August body in Abuja is despicable, horrific, inhuman, wicked, and unheard of,” he stated.
He criticized those responsible for hiring thugs to invade the secretariat, calling it a disgraceful act that undermines democracy.
Loss of Party’s Founding Values
George lamented that the PDP, once a beacon of civility and respect for the rule of law, was losing its core values. He recalled the contributions of the party’s founding fathers, including Chief Solomon Lar, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Bola Ige, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and Chief Sunday Afolabi.
He accused current party leaders of dishonoring the legacy of these pioneers, stating that some individuals were deliberately working to destroy the party from within.
Call for Action Against Disruptive Members
George urged the PDP leadership to take firm action against those destabilizing the party, emphasizing that such behavior should not be tolerated.
“I strongly believe this should also be seen as a serious offence which should not be condoned. What happened on Wednesday was horrendous, terrible, and dreadful,” he added.
He warned that if thuggery could be used to disrupt a BoT meeting, it could escalate into even more dangerous actions during National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings.
A Warning Against Turning PDP into an ‘Agbero’ Party
George reiterated that PDP, as Africa’s largest political party, must not be allowed to descend into lawlessness.
“As the largest party in Africa, PDP should not be turned into an ‘Agbero’ party by any member with an inordinate ambition. We have rules and regulations that govern our party,” he concluded.
