Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Bode George, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for his recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna State.

While on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’, yesterday, the former deputy national chairman of the party also dismissed the coalition agenda, describing it as a ploy to weaken the main opposition party.
 
Atiku has been calling on opposition figures across the country to form a mega party that would challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

His recent visit to the former President was also seen as an attempt to lure him to his coalition campaign.
  
Accompanying Atiku to the meeting were former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai; former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, among others.
 
Reacting to the move, George said: “Those who are now forming a mega party, what is the purpose of that mega party. You are a member of a solid organisation, and you want to pull out. You are meeting with Buhari; is he a member of our party? Have you discussed your mega something with anybody else? Do you think it is a private fiefdom? Is PDP a private company? Nobody owns PDP. Bring it to the party, and let us discuss it. Once it is approved, you move. You don’t just flip-flop because of your ambition.
 
“Look at Buhari shaking hands with these guys. We presented you against him, and he flopped you like a little kid, and then you ran there. And if you look at the congregation of those who visited Buhari, they are all from one side, who are the others from our party?”
 
The South-West PDP chief wondered what Atiku was trying to do with the mega party. “Is he trying to divide Nigeria from the North and then the South?” George queried.

He further advised PDP members across the country to “come home and work together for the party ahead of 2027,” rather than joining to set up a mega party for Atiku’s ambition.
 
Expressing disappointment over reports that some PDP governors are decamping to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the act as a betrayal of the platform that gave them political relevance.
 
“We are running a system here that is very despicable, very disheartening,” he said. “A platform that gave you all the necessary tools, the opportunity to represent your constituency; now, halfway into your tenure, you are jumping ship? I am very disappointed with these governors,” he lamented.
 
George also recalled his experience under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, where he led a delegation to South Africa to mediate a political crisis and learned firsthand how differently political systems could function. He pointed out that in South Africa, parties, not individuals, contest elections, giving true meaning to party supremacy.
 
“That is why, there, when you say the party is supreme, the party is supreme,” he added.
 
He questioned the integrity of governors who campaigned under the PDP’s vision and programmes, only to consider switching allegiances mid-term. “The electorate in their states supported them because of the programmes of the party. Now you want to go back? What is it that APC presented?” he queried, highlighting the lack of structure within the ruling party.
 
George’s comments come in the wake of reports that three to four PDP governors were preparing to defect to the APC to support Tinubu’s second-term bid.