PDP stalwart Bode George laments the party’s decline, citing defections, disunity and betrayal as threats to its future ahead of the 2027 elections. “The Iroko is bleeding,” he says

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]DP Iroko, once a mighty metaphor used by founding member Chief Bode George to describe the enduring strength of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), now faces withering decline amid rising internal betrayals and defections.

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Bode George, reflecting nostalgically on the glory days of the PDP which he fondly called “the Iroko” has described recent developments within the party as a “disgusting abomination”.

Once likened to a towering tree offering shelter, resilience, and unity, the PDP is now “wailing for survival,” according to the elder statesman.

At the recent PDP Governors’ Forum meeting in Ibadan, chaired by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, hope briefly flickered as George declared, “the Iroko is back.” But that optimism quickly unraveled.

In a shocking turn of events, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), along with the PDP’s state apparatus.

Shortly after, Akwa Ibom’s Governor Umo Eno threatened his cabinet with dismissal if they did not also follow him into the APC. These betrayals, George noted, were equivalent to stabs in the back of the Iroko.

Betrayals didn’t stop there. Mohammed himself announced his intent to collaborate with Labour Party’s Peter Obi in the 2027 election raising questions about party unity.

Furthermore, ongoing disputes within the PDP over the Secretary-General position saw the party ignore South-East consensus around Ude-Okoye, appointing Arch Setonji Koshoedo instead.

This move provoked threats of secession from the South-East bloc, further deepening the PDP’s fractures.

“The danger of sitting on the fence is that the party may eventually lose both sides,” one PDP insider warned, as Minister Nyesom Wike continues to wield significant influence from within the APC ranks while still claiming PDP membership.

In what may be the most symbolic blow, the PDP has reportedly been unable to pay the ground rent for its national headquarters now relying on Wike, the very figure accused of undermining the party, to foot the bill.

“They want Wike to pay the piper, but not dictate the tune,” critics note with irony.

George himself has a complicated relationship with APC leader and current President Bola Tinubu. Having vowed to go into exile if Tinubu became President in 2023, he ultimately stayed, citing concerns over electoral credibility.

The animosity between the two Lagos powerbrokers runs deep and colours George’s horror at the possibility that his party his beloved Iroko might tacitly back Tinubu in 2027.

“The Iroko is bleeding,” George said. “What we are witnessing is not just a decline it’s sabotage from within. Betrayal by those it nurtured.”

The PDP’s inability to maintain discipline has seen high-profile members publicly back candidates from rival parties without consequence.

The precedent began with the PDP’s mishandling of the zoning arrangement in 2023, which saw Bode George himself endorsing an opposition candidate in protest.

Despite calls for a coalition, the party insists on leading any alliance a position that may not be tenable given the current state of disrepair.

Senator Abba Moro recently stated, “We’re open to coalitions, but PDP must lead.” However, with key leaders like Wike backing Tinubu, the reality may be that PDP’s role in 2027 will be more symbolic than influential.

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What began with Obasanjo’s third term agenda and subsequent violations of the North-South power rotation has snowballed into a full-blown leadership crisis. Each successive betrayal has carved away at the once-mighty PDP, reducing it to a shell of its former self.