Veteran politician and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has issued a blunt warning to dissenting voices within the party, declaring that those undermining its unity must either fall in line or ship out.
In a hard-hitting interview on ARISE NEWS, George described saboteurs in the party as “progress terminators,” insisting the PDP can no longer afford internal disloyalty if it is to remain Nigeria’s leading opposition force.
“In life, you have those that can be termed as progress terminators, and also success accelerators,” he said. “If you want to be a progress terminator, please ship yourself out. And the party must be strong enough to take that decision. Period.”
George revealed that the forthcoming national convention — originally designed as a non-elective gathering — has been converted into an elective one due to internal crises and the resignation of top officials. He explained that the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) zoning committee had been tasked with reviewing the sharing of leadership positions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The former Deputy National Chairman accused some party members of betraying the collective spirit of the PDP by pursuing personal ambitions at the expense of unity.
“We can’t continue to appeal to those who have made up their minds to jump ship. If they are tired of the party, let them go. Enough is enough. It is not anybody’s private field. It’s an organisation bigger than any one of us,” he declared.
George emphasized that the PDP’s strength lies not in appeasing dissenters but in demonstrating discipline and vision to the Nigerian electorate. “The most important people we must speak to are the electorate. If they see the quality of management, the quality of leadership, and the ideology we put forward, they will give us their votes,” he noted.
Drawing a contrast with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), George said: “The difference between the PDP and the APC is as clear as crystal. In APC, there is only one man — the president — who speaks to the heart of the party. In PDP, no individual owns the party. It is collective responsibility.”
On the sensitive issue of zoning, he reaffirmed that rotational leadership remains central to Nigeria’s stability and the PDP’s founding vision. “There are six geopolitical zones and six top positions in the country. That was the understanding since 1998. Everybody must have a sense of belonging. That is what sets us apart.”
As the NEC meeting approaches, George called for tough decisions:
“This NEC meeting must extract all these misgivings. If the party does not make a decisive decision, we will just go back and vote no. Enough is enough.”