A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, Bode George, has warned that the opposition party may lose the 2023 presidential election due to the current crises rocking the party.
He added that the way and manner the protracted leadership crisis is resolved will determine the fate of PDP in 2023 polls, and might cause its defeat.
The former PDP Deputy chairman, also warned that PDP may be polarised and fragmented into the Northern Peoples Democratic Party (NPDP) and Southern Peoples Democratic Party (SPDP), if the National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, does not resign.
According to him, “Let me declare categorically that the positions of presidential candidate and national chairman cannot come from the same zone.”
George, who supports the call for the removal of Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman of the party, spoke with reporters in Lagos on the consequences of politics of exclusion and inequality in the party.
“Today, we are in a situation in which our National Chairman is from the same zone as our presidential candidate.
“We should not allow any sentiment – ethnic or religious to divide us. Unfortunately, with what we are presently witnessing, our party may lose the next presidential election if we continue to disregard or fail to address the feeling and grievances of ‘alienation’ being presently experienced by the entire Southern population of this great country,” George said.
“If this issue is dismissed, we cannot expect votes from them.”
“In May this year, we elected our presidential candidate in the person of HE. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, setting aside the principle of rotation as enshrined in the constitution of our party in the interest of peace and unity of our party.
He added: “Until this party returns to the founding fathers’ principles of unity, with equity, fairness and justice being the pedestal for any political decision taken in this party; and ensuring broad-mindedness to accommodate the concerns of all zones in this country, PDP becomes vulnerable to disaster in the 2023 elections.”
Accompanied by his wife, Rolly, Senator Kofoworola Akerele-Bucknor and other party chieftains, the party elder advised Ayu to honour his promise to step down, if the presidential candidate emerges from the North.
