By Ihechi Enyinnaya
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has declared that the party will not present a northern candidate for the 2027 presidential election, insisting that such a move would go against the vision of the party’s founding fathers.
Speaking at a PDP stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos to mark what he described as the “restoration” of the party, George emphasized that equity and justice must guide the choice of the party’s flagbearer. “The PDP will not give its 2027 presidential ticket to someone from the North. That would be contrary to the vision of our founding fathers as led by Pa Alex Ekwueme,” he stated.
George, who lauded the resilience of the PDP amid past crises, noted that the party had emerged stronger. “The reason we called this meeting is to celebrate the restoration of the PDP. For a long time, we had a national crisis that made us look like a collapsing party. But like a tree with deep roots, we have weathered the storm and remain standing.”
He took a swipe at party chieftains who, he said, contributed to past internal crises through selfish ambition. “Many of them sitting there want to be presidential candidates. There were a lot of manoeuvres by the number two and three citizens. I implore them to rethink. Can you leave your father’s house and become a tenant elsewhere? This is the party that mentored you.”
Taking a historical perspective, George warned that repeating past mistakes would only deepen the crisis within the PDP. He urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his allies to retrace their steps, referencing the party’s flawed decisions during the last national convention. “I warned them then. What they are doing now is pouring fuel on the fire,” he said.
Highlighting the growing role of tribalism and religious bigotry in Nigerian politics, George called for a deeper national reflection. “These have not been expunged from our politics. Mr. President, you are in power now. There’s an urgent need to rethink. All those bankers and oil chiefs should be mandated to donate a minimum of one million naira to a national skill acquisition fund to tackle youth unemployment.”
He also advocated for a constitutional review to address structural imbalances, especially in the local government system. “There’s an imbalance in the number of local governments across states. It’s a clear injustice. Where is the equity? It’s time to revisit the structure,” he said.
Drawing inspiration from Nigeria’s past leadership in African peace efforts, George lamented the country’s current diminished standing on the continent. “Nigeria used to be a key player in restoring democracy in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Congo, and others. What is our position today?”
He concluded with a call for moral introspection and national responsibility: “This life is made up of three types of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who neither know nor care. Let us not end up in what the Oyibo man calls existential imbecility. Take a spiritual health check. Ask God if you’ve represented Him well in your office.”
George’s firm declaration on the PDP’s 2027 zoning decision is likely to stir conversations within the party and beyond as Nigeria begins to look ahead to the next general elections.