Bode George hyperlinks PDP disaster to greed, disregard for founding fathers

A former Nationwide Vice Chairman (South-West) of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olabode George, has traced the lingering disaster throughout the social gathering to what he described as greed, avarice and a rising disregard for the foundational rules that when guided the opposition social gathering.

George spoke throughout a present affairs interview programme, Frontline, on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ijebu-Ilese, Ogun State, on Thursday.

Reflecting on the inner battle rocking the social gathering, the elder statesman insisted that the division didn’t emerge from ideological variations however from the actions of people who ignored the principles laid down by the social gathering’s founding fathers.

George’s feedback got here amid deepening divisions throughout the PDP following the aftermath of the 2023 Nigerian common election, which triggered intense management disputes, zoning disagreements and management battles over social gathering buildings throughout a number of states.

The disaster has weakened the opposition social gathering and led to a wave of defections by governors, lawmakers and senior members, with a number of state leaders shifting to the ruling All Progressives Congress and different events up to now 12 months.

Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, as an example, defected to the APC in December 2025 alongside lawmakers loyal to him, whereas different governors throughout totally different states have additionally deserted the PDP amid the inner rift.

The inner battle was additional compounded by a latest ruling of the Courtroom of Appeal of Nigeria, which voided the PDP’s November 15–16, 2025, nationwide conference held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The appellate courtroom affirmed an earlier determination of the Federal Excessive Courtroom of Nigeria that restrained the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee from recognising the result of the conference after discovering that the social gathering did not adjust to constitutional and electoral procedures, together with the conduct of congresses in a number of states earlier than the conference.

The previous Army Administrator of Ondo State mentioned the PDP was intentionally structured to make sure nationwide stability and stability in Nigeria’s political system, significantly via its zoning association, which allowed totally different areas of the nation to take turns occupying the presidency and different key positions.

He defined that the breakdown of the association started when sure people selected private ambition over the collective curiosity of the social gathering.

“I don’t wish to return into the main points of how this nonsense began. It began due to avarice, due to greed, due to an absence of respect for constituted authorities.

“The rules as stipulated by the founding fathers of our social gathering have been completely disconnected, they usually have been now saying, ‘Oh, it have to be me, he have to be this.’ Who’re you? Let the need of the individuals prevail,” he mentioned.

George additional disclosed that the PDP’s zoning components was conceived to ensure equity amongst Nigeria’s various ethnic and regional teams, noting that the association helped stabilise the nation’s political construction after years of instability.

He recalled that the thought was developed by senior political leaders who sought to forestall future crises that would threaten Nigeria’s democracy.

“PDP created an idea of operation on this nation the place we determined that each Nigerian, whether or not you’re a majority or minority tribe, you might be acceptable and accountable, and it’s essential to profit from the presents that God gave you in your personal native space.

“The founding fathers divided Nigeria into six geopolitical zones and created this zoning idea the place one zone holds the presidency for eight years, and it rotates to a different zone,” he mentioned.

George mentioned the association ensured that each a part of the nation may really feel a way of belonging throughout the political system.

“You do zonal rotation to just remember to are assured that you’ll not solely be a participant however that someday you may come and meet your individuals and say you will be president. What will be higher than that? Which different political social gathering does that on this nation? None,” he added.

The PDP chief lamented that the system started to break down when people positioned private ambition above social gathering self-discipline.

Based on him, the present turmoil throughout the social gathering will be traced to the second when a member insisted on contesting for a place opposite to the established zoning association.

“How did we miss it? The primary level is human greed. One fellow got here out and mentioned, ‘I don’t care no matter it’s, I’m going to contest.’ All of the manipulation they created adopted from there. I used to be on the conference, and I mentioned, ‘What’s going on right here?’” he added.

He added that the event would have deeply disenchanted the social gathering’s founding leaders, who designed the framework to keep up stability and unity.

“These outdated males who had handed on can be shaking violently of their graves. That was after we turned logic the wrong way up in our social gathering, and that’s the consequence we’re seeing in the present day,” George lamented.

He insisted that restoring respect for the social gathering’s founding rules stays the one path to unity and stability throughout the opposition social gathering.