Chief Bode George, a former National Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asserts that the party must adhere to its power rotation principle between the North and South to secure victory in 2027.
George made this statement while responding to journalists’ questions during his national address titled “My Thoughts on The State of Our Country in the Last 25 Years: A Time to Chart A New Direction” in Lagos.
He was commenting on a recent declaration by Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s Presidential candidate in 2023, who announced he would relinquish his ambition in 2027 if the party selects a candidate from the Southeast.
Abubakar, after meeting with Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s Presidential candidate in 2023, stated that should Obi rejoin the PDP and the party decides to zone the presidential ticket to the Southeast in 2027, he would withdraw his candidacy in support of Obi.
George emphasized that adherence to power rotation is essential, noting that the PDP should have learned from its 2023 electoral defeat.
He remarked, “Our party has a grundnorm. The constitution of our party, as established by the founding father, Baba Ekwueme (former Vice President Alex Ekwueme) and his team, will remain a guiding light.”
“We have paid a big price for not following the rule. We have made mistakes, let us learn. It has cost us too much.
“Section 7 sub section 3C states very clearly that the party must adhere to the zoning and rotation procedures for party positions and elective positions simultaneously for things to work well.
George, a PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) member, said that power rotation, as embedded in the party’s constitution,was to guard against any situation that might bring back the military to power.
He said that the party’s founding fathers divided the country into six geo-political zones to capture the majority and minority tribes and give all a sense of belonging.
“This is because the problem since 1960 is between majority tribes and minority tribes.
“The majority tribe will have their way, but the minority will just be mere onlookers. That was the major cause of coups and counter coups,” he said.
According to him, the party’s founding fathers came up with the idea that the top six positions in the land be shared by the six geo-political zones for equity and justice.
He listed the positions as offices of the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the party.
He added: “They (founding fathers) agreed that every eight years, all the positions held by northern zones should come to the south zones, vice versa for rotation.
“The party does not micro zone. That idea was very refreshing and what kept democracy alive then.
“The moment we (the PDP) started tinkering with that idea officially against our grundnorm, that was what created division in PDP.”
He said that Abubakar’s micro zoning comment under which he would he would stay clear of contest, was not known to the party’s constitution.
George said: “I want to appeal to him, in the interest of millions of Nigerians, and those who are still coming, to allow this nation rise.
“The party cannot tell anybody not to contest because it will run foul of the members’ fundamental human rights ,but the party must definitively state that the number one is going down (South) or Up (North) depending on who has held it.”
He stated that following President Buhari’s eight-year tenure, it was only fair for the South to have its turn at a two-term presidency.
He argued that if the PDP had adhered to its foundational principles, it would still occupy Aso Rock Villa.
He reasoned that the combined votes of Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party, and Abubakar of the PDP in the 2023 general elections would have secured a PDP victory.
He expressed his desire to see the Constitution, as established by the nation’s founding fathers, upheld throughout his lifetime.
He warned that without adherence to this principle, the party risks remaining divided and defeated.
Regarding the Lagos PDP chapter’s crisis, George minimized its severity, attributing the issues to individuals seeking positions.
