Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has dismissed concerns that the recent wave of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State poses any serious threat to the PDP’s future, particularly with the 2027 general elections in sight.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme aired on Friday, George described the defections as typical political movements that are unlikely to have lasting consequences for the opposition party.

His comments come after Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy Monday Onyeme, former governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and several commissioners and political stakeholders officially joined the APC earlier in the week.

When asked about the impact of these high-profile departures, including the involvement of political heavyweight James Ibori, George dismissed the situation with confidence.

“It’s nothing. Absolutely nothing. The people of Delta are watching closely. What tangible benefits has the APC government provided them?” George said. “There’s widespread discontent across the land. Those who switched parties likely did so for personal gain, not public service.”

He insisted that Delta State’s electorate remains loyal to the PDP, recalling the benefits they enjoyed under previous PDP-led administrations.

“If they choose to leave, we wish them well,” George added. “We've seen these kinds of mass defections before—many who left eventually returned because they found the APC to be an organization centered around personal interests.”

When pressed further about the apparent significance of losing such prominent figures—including Okowa, the PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate—George remained unfazed.

"Is this new? Have we forgotten how key figures left during one of our national conventions?" he asked rhetorically. "Those already in the APC have ambitions too—governorship, Senate seats, local leadership. It’s not a party where you can just walk in and take over."

He emphasized that defections are part of Nigeria’s evolving political landscape and should not be interpreted as a sign of the PDP’s decline.

Responding to concerns that endorsements of President Bola Tinubu by some PDP governors could signify a breaking point for the party, George, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), maintained that the current situation is simply a phase in Nigeria’s dynamic political journey.