A prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has sharply criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for his recent visit to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the move as a betrayal of the PDP and a self-serving push for a coalition.
Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Tuesday, George expressed dismay that Atiku, a PDP stalwart, would sideline his party to advance his coalition agenda with Buhari, a key figure in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Atiku has recently called on opposition figures across Nigeria to unite and form a mega party ahead of the 2027 general election with the goal of unseating President Bola Tinubu. However, George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, rejected the initiative, calling it a veiled attempt to weaken the PDP and centralise power around Atiku.
“Those who are now forming a mega party—what is the purpose of that? You are a member of a solid organisation, and now you want to pull out? You are meeting with Baba Buhari. Is he a member of our party?” George asked during the interview.
He criticised Atiku for not consulting within the party before launching his coalition talks, adding, “You bring it within the party. Let us discuss it. Once it is approved, then you move. You don’t just flip-flop because of your personal ambition.”
George also questioned the optics of Atiku’s meeting with Buhari, pointing out that the delegation appeared to be dominated by northerners and lacked representation from other parts of the country. He accused Atiku of ignoring the PDP’s internal zoning structure, which informally rotates the presidency between the North and the South.
“Atiku got the ticket in 2019, and again in 2023. Now he wants it again in 2027. Is PDP a private fiefdom?” George asked.
He further stated that Nigeria’s presidential rotation system should be respected, noting that after eight years of President Buhari from the North, it is only fair for the South to produce the next president.
Rather than supporting a coalition for what he termed Atiku’s “personal ambition,” George urged PDP members to return to the party fold and work together ahead of the next election cycle.
