Atiku, David Mark Wrecked PDP, Now Forming Coalition, Says BoT Member Bode George

Friday July 04, 2025

By Our Political Reporter

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bode George, has accused ex-Senate President David Mark and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of destroying the PDP, only to now champion an opposition coalition on a different political platform.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Friday, July 4, George criticised the move by Mark, who recently resigned from the PDP to lead the ADC coalition, and Atiku, who remains a PDP member but is also involved in the emerging alliance.

“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 said, warning PDP members flirting with the coalition that such dual allegiance is disloyal and unsustainable.

He blamed both Mark and Atiku for laying the groundwork for the crisis that has fractured the PDP, dating back to the party’s 2022 convention.

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“When we had the last convention, General Buhari had just finished eight years. Then Atiku Abubakar wanted to compete (but) we said no; a northerner had just finished eight years. We had (Peter) Obi in the South. This was the beginning of the crisis,” he said.

“David Mark was the chairman of that convention, and Iyorchia Ayu was the chairman of the party. Of course, you cannot do things like that and get away with it. I warned against it at that point.”

George, a founding member of the PDP, described the coalition as lacking depth, calling it “existential imbecility” and “existential docility.”

“What is it that they are all going there for? This is your father’s house. The house made you, brought you to the limelight.

“You gain every laurel and recognition from this same house. And because there is a little crisis, is leaving the cultural thing to do? No, you sit in there,” he said.

He argued that those abandoning the PDP should instead stay back and fix what’s broken, adding, “If you have a house that is leaking, do you run out? No, you are the landlord.”

George also questioned the strategic foundation of the ADC coalition. “Do they have a concept? What is the strategy they have? That is a classless strategy.”

The ADC-led coalition, which seeks to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027, was unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja.

It appointed David Mark as interim national chairman and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as interim secretary.

Other notable figures at the unveiling include Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir el-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Dele Momodu, and Emeka Ihedioha.

Despite Atiku not formally leaving the PDP, George expressed concern that his involvement in the coalition undermines the party’s unity and credibility heading into the next election cycle.