Bode George Slams Atiku, David Mark for Aligning with ADC Coalition

Veteran politician and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has launched a scathing attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Senate President David Mark over their recent political alliance with the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The elder statesman described the move as a betrayal of the PDP’s legacy and a serious threat to the unity and strength of the opposition.

Speaking during a live interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, George expressed deep concern over the formation of the ADC-led coalition, which many political analysts see as a strategic attempt to forge a mega opposition bloc ahead of the 2027 presidential elections. For George, however, this realignment signals political hypocrisy and a weakening of the original opposition platform that once ruled Nigeria for 16 unbroken years.

George Decries Dual Loyalty in Politics

Bode George took issue with prominent PDP figures, including Atiku and Mark, who continue to associate with the PDP while allegedly promoting another political agenda under the ADC coalition. He was blunt in his criticism, likening such dual loyalties to religious heresy.

“You can’t serve two masters, as stated in the Holy Book. You either serve A or you serve B. But to say you are in A and B is a fallacy,” George remarked. He maintained that the new coalition was formed out of desperation and personal ambition rather than shared political ideology or principle.

Referencing the controversial 2022 PDP presidential primaries, George blamed Atiku and Mark for sowing seeds of discord in the party. According to him, the refusal to zone the party’s presidential ticket to the South, despite Muhammadu Buhari’s recent completion of two northern terms, was the genesis of the crisis.

“Atiku Abubakar wanted to contest just after General Buhari’s eight years. We said no. A northerner had just completed his tenure. We had a southerner in Peter Obi. But they ignored our counsel,” George said. “David Mark chaired that convention, and Iyorchia Ayu was party chairman. That was when things fell apart.”

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“ADC Coalition Is a Classless Strategy” – George

The former Lagos State military administrator dismissed the ADC-led coalition as a poorly conceived and ideologically empty strategy. He questioned the competence and unity of purpose among those leading the new movement.

“Do they have a concept? What is the strategy they have? That is a classless strategy. It is nothing but existential imbecility,” he said. “Or sometimes what is called existential docility.”

George suggested that the migration of PDP leaders to the ADC was less about salvaging Nigeria’s democratic space and more about satisfying personal egos. He emphasized that abandoning the PDP during a period of internal struggle reflects self-interest rather than patriotism.

“Is it because the PDP has collapsed, or is it because of personal aggrandizement? What is driving them to this other party?” he queried. “It’s ambition disguised as patriotism.”

PDP Is Still Home, Not a Sinking Ship

Despite his grievances, George remained optimistic about the PDP’s ability to weather the storm. He likened the party to a family house that deserves repair rather than desertion.

“This is your father’s house. The house made you, brought you to the limelight. You gained every laurel and recognition from this same house,” he said. “If the roof is leaking, you fix it—you don’t abandon it.”

He called on disenchanted PDP members to return and engage in constructive dialogue rather than seek refuge in alternative platforms. George argued that the PDP’s rich history of internal debate and its democratic foundation remain critical assets in the quest to reclaim national leadership.

According to him, the internal crisis should be viewed not as a sign of collapse but as an opportunity for renewal.

“PDP is still resilient. We still have the platform. We debate, we deliberate, and we engage. That is a strength, not a weakness,” George concluded.

A Battle for Nigeria’s Political Soul

As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general election, the formation of new political coalitions like the ADC—and the realignment of old power players—are expected to shape the political landscape. But Bode George’s remarks serve as a powerful reminder of the ideological and personal tensions that continue to plague the country’s opposition politics.

For now, the PDP remains at a crossroads, caught between renewal from within and fragmentation from without. Whether it can recover its former glory or be overshadowed by new alliances will depend largely on the decisions made in the coming months.