A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has expressed disappointment over the protracted internal crisis rocking the opposition, saying this could damage its public image.

The leadership ranks of the party have been enmeshed in an internal crisis which contributed to the party’s defeat in the 2023 presidential elections. A recent BoT meeting convened to address a crisis related to the position of the party’s national secretary also ended in an altercation.

In an Arise TV interview monitored by Peoples Gazette on Friday, Mr George described the leadership crisis as “disgraceful”, highlighting its consequences for the party’s reputation.

“I joined the meeting by Zoom. We got cut off by the time somebody physically pushed the former national youth leader of the party out, and I was raving with anger here. Are we Agberos?” Mr George said.

He added, “With the experience, age and commitment that we had had from the establishment of the party. It’s disgraceful.”

The ex-deputy chairman (South-West) expressed concerns that the unresolved crisis would undermine the PDP’s chances of winning elections and the trust of Nigerians.

“And my concerns had been that we have to be careful because of the public image this would send. If you want to be a winner in any political system of any country, your public image is very important. If people are looking at us and saying, ‘Can you trust this party?’” Mr George stated.

Asked about his reason for supporting Rivers former Governor Nyesom Wike before the last presidential polls, Mr George said, “He was motivated by the fundamentals of the party”. He accused the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and its national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, of abandoning its constitution.

The PDP chieftain recommended an instituted committee to resolve the crisis instead of shifting blame or throwing unnecessary tantrums, noting the ruling All Progressives Congress (AP) “also have their crisis”.

“Of course, APC also have their own. They have never held any national executive meeting. Ganduje, who is their national chairman, had just been imposed. So it’s not only us. But for God’s sake, we can resolve our own.

“Throwing tantrums and pushing issues or blaming APC for the crisis undermines the issue. We must sit down. Both sides of the divide — Atiku and Wike— had committed harakiri. We must be bold enough to tell them the truth and stop this nonsense,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Mr Wike blamed the inability of the PDP to bring its leadership ranks together on personal ambitions. The FCT minister accused some party members of continued attempts to render him irrelevant.