Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has called on opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Senate President David Mark, to return to the PDP and join efforts to rebuild the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in Lagos on Thursday during a gathering themed “Restitution of Restoration,” George described the PDP as a resilient and reborn political force, arguing that no newly formed coalition can rival its nationwide structure, legacy, and grassroots reach.
“There is no coalition in today’s Nigeria that can be stronger than PDP,” George declared. “The PDP has weathered all storms. It is the Iroko political party of Nigeria.”
He specifically urged David Mark currently the interim national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other former PDP stalwarts to reconsider their alignment with the opposition coalition. George warned that abandoning the PDP is tantamount to betraying the vision and sacrifices of its founding fathers.
“Those who attained national prominence on the PDP platform should rethink their decision. Leaving the PDP dishonours the sacrifices of the party’s founding fathers,” he said.
George claimed that the internal crises that once divided the PDP have been resolved, clearing the path for reconciliation and unity. He dismissed the rationale behind forming new coalitions, stating that those conditions no longer exist.
On the contentious issue of presidential zoning ahead of 2027, George reaffirmed the PDP’s commitment to power rotation, noting that the party’s founding agreement was built on maintaining national balance.
“The founding fathers of the PDP introduced zoning to ensure balance and avoid chaos. What’s the contention now? People want to run for president, but positions in the PDP are zoned,” he added.
George’s intervention comes amid growing fragmentation in Nigeria’s opposition ranks, with prominent figures rallying behind the ADC-led coalition as a potential platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
