Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has dismissed the recent defections of key Delta State politicians to the All Progressives Congress (APC), asserting that they pose no significant threat to the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
During an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Friday, George described these defections as a common political occurrence with minimal long-term consequences for the PDP.
His comments follow the defections of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy Monday Onyeme, and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, along with several commissioners and political stakeholders, to the APC on Wednesday.
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When asked about the implications of this mass exodus, reportedly including former Governor James Ibori, on the PDP’s current state, George downplayed any concerns.
“Nothing. Nothing. The fact that these guys moved en masse… the people of Delta are waiting. Because what impact has the APC, as a government, given to the people? There is anger in the land. What do you think they are going to do there, if not for personal embellishment?” George stated.
He added, “The people of Delta are naturally PDP members. They know the kind of positive impact they enjoyed under the PDP national government. So, if you now decide to go, we wish you the best of luck. We’ve seen it before—those who trooped out eventually came back, because they’re heading into an organisation that is so personally owned.”
Despite being pressed about the significance of losing such prominent figures, including Okowa, George remained unfazed.
“Is it new in the land?” he rhetorically asked. “You’ve forgotten the time when heavyweights left during the national convention of our party? Let me ask you—those already in APC, do you think they’ll fold their arms and say ‘welcome’? They have their ambitions too—governorship, National Assembly, local government. You can’t just waltz in and take over.”
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According to George, these defections are typical in Nigerian politics and do not indicate the PDP’s collapse.
“This is absolute politics. You’ll wait and see that the people of Delta will return. The will of the people is what matters in politics,” he said.
Responding to suggestions that these defections and PDP governors’ endorsements of President Bola Tinubu could mark a breaking point for the party, George reiterated that the situation is “merely transitional.”
“It’s an experience. We’ve gone through this before,” he said. “It is not a threat. Just because something happens doesn’t mean it is final. Politics is not rigid; it’s dynamic.”
Referencing Okowa’s past stance during the southern governors’ meeting in Asaba, where they advocated for a southern presidency, George found his defection ironic.
“Is that not the same Okowa who invited southern governors of all parties to Asaba to demand a southern presidency?” he questioned. “Then suddenly, he’s in Abuja collecting a vice-presidential ticket. It was foolish. You can’t forget that part of the history and pretend it doesn’t matter.”
George concluded by assuring Nigerians that the PDP would emerge stronger.
“These movements don’t scare us,” he said. “We’ve been here before—and we know how it ends.”
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