Prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Bode George, has raised alarm over the potential downfall of the party if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerges as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, George expressed strong reservations about Atiku’s continuous pursuit of the presidency, warning that a repeat of the 2023 scenario could spell doom for the PDP. He stated emphatically, “If he (Atiku) picks the PDP ticket, that is the end of this party. If he picks it through manipulation, which was how it was done the last time, we will not accept it.”
Atiku, who was PDP’s standard bearer in the last presidential election, has vied for the presidency six times under different platforms. Despite consistently falling short of victory, he remains a key figure in Nigeria’s political landscape. He came second in the 2023 poll, trailing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Labour Party’s Peter Obi finished third.
George insisted that the PDP’s zoning principle, which favours power rotation between North and South, should be respected. He noted that the North has had its turn and that it is time for the South to produce the party’s next presidential candidate. “I’m not saying he cannot contest; of course, he has the constitutional right to do so under any party. But under the PDP? No. The North has had eight years, now it is the turn of the South,” he declared.
His comments come on the heels of recent political realignments, including an opposition coalition announced on March 20, 2025. The alliance features Atiku, Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, and other high-profile politicians aiming to unseat Tinubu in 2027, citing soaring inflation and an unprecedented cost of living under his administration.
However, not everyone is optimistic about the prospects of an Atiku-led coalition. APC chieftain Ayekooto Akindele dismissed the possibility of a successful comeback for Atiku or el-Rufai, even in alliance with extreme elements. In a scathing Facebook post, Akindele wrote, “Even if Atiku and el-Rufai merge with terrorists like Abubakar Shekau and Bello Turji, they will still lose in 2027.”
He further stated that by the time power is expected to return to the North in 2031, it must be entrusted to a pan-Nigerian leader with unifying credentials—not recycled political figures. “People like Atiku and el-Rufai must never come near power again,” he asserted.
Despite criticism, Atiku and his allies appear determined to reshape Nigeria’s political future. The coalition is banking on the combined electoral strength recorded by Atiku and Obi in 2023, which surpassed Tinubu’s declared votes by over four million. Supporters argue that if the two candidates had run on a joint ticket, the outcome of the election might have been different.
Analysts suggest that the path to 2027 remains uncertain, with internal party dynamics, regional politics, and public sentiment all playing crucial roles. For now, the PDP must confront its internal divisions and clarify its stance on zoning and leadership as the countdown to the next election begins in earnest.
