Amid growing concerns over mass defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including several high-profile departures in Delta State, party chieftain and Board of Trustees member Chief Bode George has expressed optimism that the PDP will rebound and emerge stronger following its National Executive Committee meeting set for May 15. Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television on Friday, George responded to concerns over the wave of defections from Delta State, which included former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and all 25 local government chairmen. Despite what many have described as a political “tsunami,” George maintained that the PDP remains strong and resilient. “A date has been fixed for our NEC meeting and after that meeting, you will see that this same Iroko tree, the political Iroko tree, will bounce back,” he said. George condemned the defections in Delta State as “despicable” and a “display of ingratitude toward a platform that elevated you.” He voiced disappointment, characterizing the exits as driven by self-interest. When asked about the impact of prominent figures like Okowa—who was the PDP’s vice-presidential candidate in the last general election—leaving the party, George brushed it off as insignificant. “It is an experience. We have gone through this before. It is not a threat. Because something happened doesn’t mean it is fixated or it is finality,” he assured. George argued that the All Progressives Congress, despite benefiting from the defections, offers no real alternative. “There is hunger in the land. There is anger in the land. What do you think they are going to do there? If it is not a personal embellishment, what are they going to do there?” he said. He acknowledged that the exodus appears damaging but maintained that the party has experienced similar episodes in the past and has always recovered. George also issued a warning about the consequences of electoral manipulation in the future, stating, “If we lose, we hands off. But if we win and you manipulate the results, you are looking for an unimaginable conflagration. And we cannot afford that.” Despite internal fractures and public criticism, the BOT member insisted the PDP is not in its final days. “We will come up with a suggested solution which will be unanimous. These challenges we are facing now will further strengthen us,” he concluded.