Chief Bode George, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Board of Trustees, has raised a strong objection to the idea of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar securing the party’s 2027 presidential ticket, warning that the party’s survival would be in jeopardy if he does. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today program, George, a seasoned politician, claimed that Atiku’s continued influence over the PDP would be disastrous for the party’s future.
“If Atiku picks the ticket, that’s the end of this party. If he secures it through manipulation, as was done the last time, we will not accept it,” George remarked, hinting at the former vice president’s controversial rise to power within the party. Atiku Abubakar, who was the PDP’s flag bearer in the 2023 presidential election, lost the race to Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but is seen as a persistent figure in Nigerian politics, having contested for the presidency multiple times over the past three decades.
The 2023 election marked Atiku’s sixth attempt at becoming Nigeria’s president. Despite finishing second, his performance in the poll was significant, particularly when considering that his coalition with the Labour Party’s Peter Obi and other opposition figures earned over 12 million votes—more than four million ahead of Tinubu’s total. This has made Atiku a key figure in the opposition’s strategy to challenge President Tinubu’s government, which has been criticized for poor economic management, high inflation, and a growing cost of living.
In March 2025, Atiku helped lead the formation of an inter-party coalition aimed at ousting President Tinubu in 2027. The coalition includes prominent opposition figures like former Anambra governor Peter Obi and ex-Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai. According to George, this coalition, though focused on uniting opposition forces, was not supported by all factions within the PDP. Specifically, the party’s governors, during a meeting in mid-April, rejected the idea of a merger or further coalition talks with other political groups, asserting their independence and commitment to the PDP’s own path.
George, who has long been a strong voice within the PDP, expressed his satisfaction with the governors’ decision to distance themselves from Atiku’s proposed coalition. “I applaud the governors for their decision. They are thinking critically, and they have rejected the idea of an alliance that doesn’t benefit the party,” he said.
According to George, Atiku’s role within the party has been problematic. He claimed that, despite being the presidential candidate in 2023, Atiku has not demonstrated leadership in resolving internal conflicts within the PDP. “If he were truly the leader of the party, he would have acted to address the numerous squabbles and divisions that have affected us,” George pointed out. He emphasized that Atiku’s personal ambitions might be conflicting with the interests of the party, and that his leadership should not be assumed merely because he ran for president.
Further complicating matters, George insisted that Atiku’s candidacy for 2027 would violate the principles and rules of the PDP. The party’s constitution, according to George, dictates that after a northern president’s two-term tenure, the next presidential candidate should come from the southern region. “There was eight years of leadership from the North under President Buhari, so it’s time for the South to produce the next president,” George argued. “Atiku cannot be the candidate, not because he’s not eligible, but because it’s against our party’s doctrine. The PDP must stick to its rule: after eight years in the North, the next president must come from the South.”
Atiku, who hails from the northern region of Nigeria, is widely regarded as one of the country’s most influential political figures. However, George’s comments reflect a growing division within the PDP on whether the party should continue to support his presidential aspirations or pivot towards a fresh, southern candidate.
George’s stance has added fuel to the fire of the ongoing debate within the PDP about its leadership and direction ahead of the 2027 election. While Atiku has supporters within the party, particularly those who see him as the most experienced and best-positioned candidate to challenge Tinubu in 2027, many others, like George, argue that the party needs to focus on unity and adopt a southern candidate to better represent the country’s regional balance.
George also expressed his desire to see a southern candidate emerge as the PDP’s presidential flag bearer for 2027, citing the need for equity and fairness in Nigerian politics. “We don’t want Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027. We want the PDP to win the next election, and that can only happen if we put forward a strong, united candidate from the South,” he said.
As the PDP navigates its path toward the next election, the battle for leadership and the future of the party remains uncertain. Atiku’s role in the party’s future is a contentious issue, with some believing that his experience and popularity will give the PDP the best chance of reclaiming power, while others, like George, fear that his continued dominance in the party will only lead to its eventual downfall.
The outcome of this internal struggle will have significant consequences not just for the PDP, but for Nigerian politics as a whole. With a presidential election just two years away, the decisions made by the party’s leaders, including its Board of Trustees, governors, and other stakeholders, will determine whether the PDP can mount a successful challenge to the ruling APC or whether it will splinter under the weight of internal divisions.
