A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George has warned that the party must take decisive action against members undermining its unity if it is to remain a credible opposition force ahead of its next national convention.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, on the outcome of a recent consultative meeting, George stressed that the PDP cannot continue to tolerate internal sabotage.

“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 explained that the zoning committee, established by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), was mandated to review leadership arrangements across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones. He noted that what was initially planned as a non-elective convention had been converted to an elective one because of internal crises and the resignation of some key officials.

“This particular convention that is coming would just have been a non-elective convention. But because of the crisis we have gone through, and the resignation of some of the principals, NEC decided it has to be an elective convention,” he said.

The PDP stalwart expressed frustration with members he described as disloyal, accusing them of undermining the collective interest of the party. According to him, individuals who are dissatisfied with party decisions should either join another political group or form their own.

“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,” George declared.

He emphasised that the party’s primary responsibility was to the Nigerian electorate, not to individual ambitions, warning that disobedience to party decisions amounted to a betrayal of trust.

“The most important people that we can talk to are the electorate. If they see the quality of management, the quality of personality, and the ideology we are presenting to them outside, they will give us their votes,” he said.

George also pointed to what he described as a structural difference between the PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). “The difference between the PDP and the APC is as clear as a crystal. In APC, there is only one man who can speak to the heart of the party the president. In PDP, no individual owns the party. It is collective responsibility.”

Reflecting on the party’s zoning principles, George reiterated that rotational leadership remains fundamental to Nigeria’s stability and to the PDP’s founding ideals. He argued that those ignoring these principles were threatening not just the party’s future but also national balance.

“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 the difference between us and others,” he explained.

Calling for decisive action at the upcoming NEC meeting, George insisted that members must either respect the constitution of the PDP or leave.

“This NEC meeting must extract all these misgivings, and if the party does not make a decisive decision, we will just go back and vote no. Enough is enough,” he warned.

The PDP, he concluded, must present itself as disciplined and united if it hopes to retain its role as Nigeria’s leading opposition party.