Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has condemned the recent defections of Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Douye Diri of Bayelsa State to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing their actions as an act of “existential imbecility.”
Speaking in an interview on Sunday, George expressed disbelief over what could motivate both governors to join the APC, questioning their loyalty and the values behind such moves amid widespread hardship in the country.
“If you are dedicated and honest to your organisation, what would attract you to the other party? The management of the country’s resources is not hitting the people, there is hunger and anger in the land, so what is attracting them to the APC?” he asked.
He criticized Governor Diri’s defection, recalling that his emergence as governor came through a Supreme Court pronouncement, describing the move as a betrayal of the people who supported him.
“Is that the way he wants to thank the people of Bayelsa? Remember that in every election, there is no single name on the ballot paper, it is the political party. It is a shame on him because a rolling stone gathers no moss,” George said.
George lamented that Nigeria’s worsening economy makes such defections even more questionable.
“The debt portfolio of the country has increased. If you go to the market, people are lamenting; young people are graduating, there is no hope. So I don’t know what is driving them there. Some say after their tenure, they would land in the EFCC, and so what?” he added.
Reacting to reports that Diri’s deputy and other PDP leaders in Bayelsa refused to follow him to the APC, George said it was a clear signal of discontent within the party’s base.
Turning to Enugu, he attributed Peter Mbah’s defection to internal disagreements but maintained that patience was all that was needed.
“As for Peter Mbah, there was this secretaryship tussle but we begged them to be patient that Samuel Anyanwu’s tenure would expire by the middle of next month. So what is it that’s driving him there? Do they have the interest of their people at heart? They should honour the people who worked and voted them into power,” he said.
On the way forward, George urged PDP governors and elders to rebuild unity ahead of 2027.
“The governors need to be careful because it looks like they are the ones manipulating the party, and that is not how the PDP was formed and structured. They must go back and meet with the elders of the party. When crisis arises, the governors alone cannot decide what happens; it should be a collective responsibility,” he warned.
George dismissed fears of Nigeria becoming a one-party state, stressing that loyalty and discipline matter more than numbers.
“I am not afraid. As a soldier, you look at those loyal to you that can go to war with you. It is not the number that matters, it is their loyalty and dedication to the party that matters,” he said.
He also cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain neutral and avoid technical lapses during elections.
“This now brings me to the umpire (INEC); it has to be careful. We don’t want to hear that there was a glitch in the system during the elections. We just hope that the new INEC chairman will not tell us stories of a glitch during elections,” he concluded.
