Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has cautioned that personal ambitions are driving the party’s ongoing internal crisis, threatening its founding ideals and national significance.
He emphasised that while disagreements are natural in political organizations, prioritising individual interests over collective goals could weaken the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking in an interview on Arise News on Thursday, George described the current state of the PDP as a painful departure from the vision of its founding fathers, who built the party on unity, inclusiveness, and national development.
“Life is not a straight line, sometimes you hit the bumps as you travel,” he said, warning that unresolved tensions could undermine democratic stability if not addressed through sincere reconciliation.
He stressed that the PDP was deliberately structured to bridge Nigeria’s ethnic and religious divides, ensuring equal participation for majority and minority groups.
“They forgot their personal ambition and dedicated their lives to forming a political party that is national in its outlook,” George said.
Identifying personal ambition as the root of the current crisis, he lamented that the party’s founding principles of selflessness and collective progress have been overshadowed.
“Suddenly, personal ambitions came in, and we found ourselves in this quagmire,” he noted.
Despite the challenges, George insisted that the crisis is not insurmountable and that the party’s leadership holds the key to restoring stability.
“I don’t see it as an issue that should decimate the party.
”No individual owns this party,” he stressed, reaffirming that the PDP belongs to Nigerians across all regions.
George welcomed the Court of Appeal in Ibadan’s intervention, which urged aggrieved members to pursue reconciliation, describing it as timely and constructive.
“Go and sit down, go and see how you can reconcile yourself,” he quoted the court.
He also warned that escalating tensions could spiral into broader national instability, criticising members who conduct congresses unilaterally amid ongoing dialogue.
“They are doing congresses and they don’t want to listen to the discussion that is going on,” he said, stressing that meaningful dialogue must take precedence over political maneuvering.
George assured supporters that the PDP remained strong, urging stakeholders to embrace dialogue and discipline to protect the party’s unity and Nigeria’s democratic balance.
“This party will not collapse,” he declared, adding, “No individual ambition can be bigger than this country called Nigeria.”
