Senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Bode George has warned dissenting members to either support the party’s unity or leave, as tensions rise ahead of the national convention in Ibadan.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, George criticised certain party leaders for what he called selfish behavior, factionalism, and “existential imbecility”, dismissing calls to suspend the convention or form a caretaker committee as unnecessary and unconstitutional.
“The main party is still solidly intact… Go to your party and resolve your issue. What is [the judiciary’s] business?” George said, reaffirming support for the scheduled convention and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
George also condemned attempts by some members to interfere with the convention, accusing National Secretary Senator Samuel Ayo of exceeding authority by releasing an advertisement claiming the event had been postponed.
Drawing historical parallels, George warned that repeated internal conflicts could destabilise the party and the country, recalling crises from the early 1960s. He urged members to either back the PDP’s constitution or exit:
“For God’s sake, this country is big enough for everybody. Don’t let us repeat the mistake of the past… If you want to relieve the party, get the hell out.”
He stressed that the party would respect judicial decisions while continuing to pursue appeals where appropriate. Beyond internal disputes, George criticised broader societal issues like tribalism and religious bigotry, calling them legacies of colonial influence.
“Love your neighbour as yourself. It’s in the Quran,” he said, emphasising unity across Nigeria’s diverse population.
George concluded on an optimistic note, asserting confidence in the PDP’s resilience and the forthcoming convention:
“By the grace of God, we are looking forward to the judgement tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes.”
