Former Deputy National Chairman (South-West) of the People’s Democratic Party, Bode George, on Monday vowed that the opposition party will correct its past mistake by denying former Vice President Atiku Abubakar the 2027 presidential ticket.
George said the party faithful have come to terms with reality and accepted that they ‘really messed up’ by fielding Atiku as the PDP candidate in 2023, a decision he admitted they are still regretting.
The PDP chieftain made the statement when he was featured as a guest on Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today.
According to him, it was unfair to have given the former VP, a northerner, the waiver to run after a fellow northerner had just finished ruling the country for eight years.
He said, “What happened the last time (2023 presidential election) was self-infliction. We shot ourselves in the head by deviating from the doctrine established by the founding fathers. Some of us warned that they were not crazy when they established this doctrine or process.
“We have realised we committed a very stupid mistake in the last election. Those who want to go to other parties and pick a presidential ticket can go. We have learned a lesson.
“We had, and I am repeating, eight years of zoning presidential candidate in the north by Section 7 Subsection 3C of our party. Once the North has held the position for eight years, it should have come down to the South.
“Who was the last president for eight years? It was my Oga, General Buhari. So how would another person, Atiku, who is also a northerner, take over the presidential ticket? We messed up. They were completely mesmerised by the procedure, and we told them that it would land in the bush.”
George claimed it was a decision they regretted and would work against recurring in the future.
When quizzed if Atiku still stands the chance of emerging as the PDP presidential candidate in 2027, George said, “He cannot be. This is what I am saying. They have spent eight years in the north. It should be the turn of a southern candidate. That is the doctrine of the founding fathers of the PDP.
“I am not saying he can’t contest. He can go to any party and pick a ticket. If he becomes the PDP candidate again in 2027, that will be the end of this party. We will not accept it.”
George also hailed governors elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party for shooting down talks of the party merging or joining the ongoing coalition to boost its chances ahead of the 2027 election.
Following its meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Monday, the PDP Governors’ Forum, chaired by Bala Mohammed, announced that the party would not participate in any coalition or merger.
While reading the communiqué on behalf of the 11 PDP Governors, Bauchi State Governor stated that instead of joining any coalition, the party, as a major opposition force, would welcome any party, individuals, or groups willing to join its platform in the pursuit of reclaiming power and establishing good leadership in 2027.
George believed the no-coalition stance was the right way to go.
According to him, it would be embarrassing to expect a mega party like the PDP to be running after upcoming political platforms to present a unified candidate for the 2023 presidential poll.
He said, “We congratulate the governors. They have brought so much joy to my mind because the majority of the electorate are already concluding that probably the PDP is dead.
“What they came out with today has gladdened my mind and has reinforced my complete loyalty and belief that this nation will survive.
“Most of the decisions they set are quite reasonable, and they will be subject to discussion and finally tabled for approval.
“On the issue of merger, how can you expect a colossus to be looking for somebody to merge with? People will come and join us. Our doors are always open.
“We are not like the party in government that is a congregation of strange bedfellows. They don’t even have the structure that we have. But we are charting our course and route back to normalcy. The major issues have been dealt with.”
