Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former Deputy National Chairman Bode George has declared that the party risks extinction if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar clinches its presidential ticket for the 2027 election.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today on April 14, 2025, George argued that Atiku’s candidacy would alienate key party factions and voters, spelling doom for the PDP’s chances against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). “If Atiku gets the ticket, the PDP is finished,” George said bluntly, citing the party’s 2023 electoral loss and internal divisions as cautionary tales.
George, a Lagos-based elder statesman, emphasized the need for a “fresh face” to unify the PDP and appeal to Nigeria’s youth, who make up over 60% of the electorate. He criticized Atiku’s repeated presidential bids—six since 1993—claiming they stifle new leadership. “We need someone who can inspire, not recycle old ambitions,” he said, suggesting southern candidates like Peter Obi or a northern progressive could reset the party’s trajectory. Atiku, 78, has not officially declared for 2027 but hinted at exercising his constitutional right to contest, drawing mixed reactions within the PDP.
The remarks come amid reports of talks among Atiku, Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso to form an opposition alliance, though George dismissed such moves as “premature” without party consensus. PDP’s 2023 defeat, securing 6.9 million votes to APC’s 8.7 million, exposed its vulnerabilities, with analysts noting that internal rifts cost it key states. George urged the PDP to prioritize restructuring and grassroots mobilization by 2026 to avoid irrelevance, warning, “We can’t afford another misstep.” The party has yet to respond officially, as debates over its 2027 strategy intensify.