PDP elder statesman accuses political heavyweights of self-interest, says new alliance lacks vision and betrays party loyalty Elder statesman and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has come down hard on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President David Mark for aligning with the newly formed coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the move as a betrayal of the PDP and a pursuit of personal ambition.
In an exclusive interview with Sunday Tribune, George criticised the coalition, which features prominent politicians such as Atiku, Peter Obi, Nasir el-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola. The group formally adopted the ADC as their political platform last Wednesday in Abuja, with the aim of unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections. George, however, dismissed the alliance as “illogical, ill-timed, and lacking substance.”
“If it is not self-aggrandisement, what are they running away from?” George asked. “If your roof is leaking, you don’t abandon the house. You stay and fix it. The PDP had issues—we’ve resolved them. So why are they leaving now?”
He argued that the move is not in the interest of the country, noting that those involved have benefitted immensely from the PDP in the past. “They caused the mess at the last National Convention, and now they are the ones trying to form a new bloc? Everybody in that coalition wants to be president—so how will that work? It’s clear they’re driven by ambition, not national unity.”
George went on to express disappointment with Atiku and David Mark specifically, questioning what more they could possibly want after rising to the number two and number three positions in the country under the PDP.
“Instead of working to strengthen the party, they’ve divided the house they helped build,” he said. “They should all return to the PDP and help rebuild what has been broken. This is not the time to walk away.”
The PDP chieftain also took aim at what he called the irrational nature of the coalition’s motives. “Maybe Bola Tinubu has gone to consult a babalawo and that’s what’s disturbing them,” he said, half in jest. “I don’t believe in that, but maybe he has—and now they’re running around without focus.”
He concluded by describing the coalition as a distraction, saying it offers no credible path forward for Nigeria. “This isn’t about the people. It’s about positioning for power. And Nigerians will see through it.”
George added that the coming PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting would be an opportunity to take key decisions on the party’s future. “This coalition, to me, is a non-issue. Let them go. Nigerians will decide,” he said.
