A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Bode George, has lashed out at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and others who recently defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing their actions as “existential imbecility.” Despite their exit, George insisted that the PDP remains strong and resilient, likening it to an Iroko tree that stands firm after a storm.

Atiku, the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, formally joined the ADC on August 16, along with other prominent figures like former Senate President David Mark, who is now the interim national chairman of the ADC. Their defection, however, has been downplayed by party leaders including Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who said it would not weaken the PDP.

Speaking on a live TV interview, George emphasized that the PDP is not owned by any individual and warned that the defection was driven by personal ambition rather than the party’s collective interest. He also highlighted the party’s zoning arrangement, which stipulates that power must rotate to the South after eight years in the North.

George accused Atiku and his allies of engineering the crisis that rocked the PDP during the 2023 presidential primaries, alleging manipulation by figures like David Mark and former PDP chairman Iyorchia Ayu. He argued that rather than abandoning the party, true leaders should stay to fix internal issues.

Urging northern politicians to respect the party’s structure and national unity, George said Atiku must “slow down” and allow for equity. He warned that if the roles were reversed, a southern attempt to flout the zoning rule would spark national unrest.