Bode George Slams Akpabio Over Defunct PDP Remark, Calls Him Ungrateful

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has strongly criticised Senate President Godswill Akpabio for referring to the PDP as a defunct party.

George, in an interview, reminded Akpabio that the PDP was the platform that brought him political relevance, noting that his comments were both disrespectful and ungrateful.

“I wish him all the best in his life. But who made him? He is now using his left hand to point at his father’s house. Who gave him that platform? Who made him governor in Akwa Ibom State? It is the PDP. The same party gave him full support. He should think back before making such statements,” George said.

Akpabio had made the remarks during the All Progressives Congress (APC) South-South stakeholders’ meeting held in Benin City, Edo State, on Saturday. While addressing party members, he mocked the PDP and the new opposition coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying they posed no threat ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“I saw my brother, the former governor Okowa, and you need to know that even though he was the vice presidential candidate in the defunct PDP, he has seen the light,” Akpabio said.

“I don’t care the name of the political party that they want to bring. Whether you call it Adamu United, Adama, Ada-Obi, or even our former airline, ADC — whatever name you want to call it — I hope you are watching and listening. The South-South is speaking: we are now coming with Bola Tinubu United. On Asiwaju we stand, on APC we stand.”

George, however, stressed that history would not forget the role of the PDP in shaping the careers of many top politicians, including Akpabio and former Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

“You think Nigerians don’t know why Okowa had to run for cover? Go back and listen to the statement made by Oshiomhole,” he added.

Akpabio had served as a two-term governor under the PDP, chaired the PDP Governors’ Forum, and won a Senate seat in 2015 on the party’s platform. He later resigned as Senate Minority Leader in 2018 before defecting to the APC.

Also reacting to Akpabio’s remarks, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi dismissed the Senate President’s mockery of the opposition coalition and said the ruling party was clearly nervous.

“What do they know how to do other than mock? We have more serious things to do than respond to such empty talk.”

“When we started, they said the coalition was dead on arrival. But now, they are jittery. That’s why they are talking like this. For us, we remain focused because we know we will defeat them,” he added.