2023: Why I won’t vote for Atiku – Bode George

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former military governor of Ondo State, Chief Bode George, has said he will not vote for his party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the next year’s election, unless the issue of inclusiveness in the party is addressed.

He disclosed this on Tuesday during a chat with Arise TV.

George is one of the prominent members of the PDP who had supported the call for the National Chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, to step down, saying the lingering crisis bedeviling the party might cause its defeat in the 2023 presidential election.

He said the South West has not held the position of the national chairman since the party was founded and it must be corrected before the 2023 elections.

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“It is not a solution that cannot be handled. All we are saying is give what belongs to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. Give us what belongs to us; Turn-by-turn Nigeria limited.

“Take for example, what I am angry about is, the first chairman was the late Solomon Lar from North Central, the second chairman, North-Central, the third chairman, Audu Ogbe, was from North-Central, the fourth chairman, Amadu Ali, from North-Central; Kawu Baraje, from Kwara, was also North-Central. Now you have Ayu, also North-Central.

“The South-West has never enjoyed this position since the party started almost 25 years ago. What is our crime? If you are telling us you want to rule this country, you have to weave all the tribes and all the people together,” he said.

While restating his earlier stance, the PDP chieftain said he would not vote for Atiku in the forthcoming election unless the issue of inclusivity in the party is addressed.

“Until this party returns to the founding fathers’ principles of unity with equity, fairness and justice being the pedestal for any political decision taken in this party, and ensuring broad-mindedness to accommodate the concerns of all zones in this country, PDP becomes vulnerable to disaster in the 2023 elections.

“I will not vote for the presidential candidate of our own party. Let them sit down and think over it. It is not negotiable; every Nigerian is important for this election.”