A Senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) statesman Chief Bode George has publicly condemned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for holding a private meeting with ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the move as politically reckless and detrimental to the unity of the PDP.
Speaking during a live appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Tuesday, the former PDP Deputy National Chairman expressed strong reservations over Atiku’s ongoing consultations aimed at forming a so-called “mega opposition coalition” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chief George questioned the intent and transparency of Atiku’s recent Kaduna visit, where he met with former President Buhari alongside political allies including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.
“Let me be very clear: you don’t build a coalition by undermining your own political family,” George said pointedly. “If you’re still a card-carrying member of the PDP, why are you consulting a former President from the opposition—one who defeated you in an election we all stood behind you to contest?”
He continued, “This is not Atiku Incorporated. The PDP is not a private business. If there are ideas about forming alliances or restructuring strategies for 2027, they must be tabled before the party, debated, and democratically approved. Personal ambition must never override collective responsibility.”
George also questioned the regional composition of Atiku’s delegation to Buhari, noting that the apparent absence of southern leaders within the group risked sending the wrong signals.
“Is this an attempt to create a political divide between North and South under the guise of a mega coalition? That’s a dangerous path,” he warned.
He criticized the optics of Buhari—whom Atiku contested against in both 2015 and 2019—welcoming the former vice president and his allies. “This was the same man we all stood against, and now you’re shaking hands like comrades-in-arms. What message does that send to loyal party members and the Nigerian public?”
George called on PDP members across the country to remain steadfast and resist any moves that could splinter the party ahead of the 2027 elections. “We must come back to base, reunite, and rebuild the PDP from within—not fracture it further to satisfy anyone’s personal ambition,” he concluded.
The remarks come amid growing internal tensions within the PDP as political actors begin to position themselves for the next election cycle.
Atiku has repeatedly advocated for the formation of a united opposition to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but critics within his own party are now voicing concerns that such efforts could dilute the PDP’s relevance and weaken its electoral prospects.
