Less than a week remains before the presidential and National Assembly elections, and the G‑5 governors—led by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike—have still not adopted a presidential candidate, Sunday learned. The group, comprising Governors Wike, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, and Seyi Makinde of Oyo, was formed to voice dissatisfaction with Iyorchia Ayu’s continued tenure as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman. The governors demanded Ayu’s resignation, arguing that it was inappropriate for the PDP to have a northerner as both national chairman and presidential candidate. They warned they would select a presidential candidate if Ayu did not step down. Despite several overtures from senior PDP members, no agreement was reached, and Wike missed the January 2023 deadline he had set for announcing the group’s choice.
According to Sunday, the governors’ personal ambitions have prevented them from agreeing on a candidate, with preferences split between All Progressives Congress (APC) frontrunner Bola Tinubu and Labour Party candidate Peter Obi. They have dismissed the PDP’s own candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as an option. Diran Odeyemi, a member of the PDP’s National Executive Committee, told Sunday that Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde sees greater prospects for re‑election if he backs Atiku. “When Makinde launched his re‑election campaign with his four fellow governors, the crowd chanted ‘Atiku’. Unlike Wike, he works within the party structure and campaigns for the former vice‑president. He knows the PDP flag is crucial to his bid, and staying on Atiku’s side—without overtly declaring it—is a smart move,” Odeyemi explained.
An associate of Governor Ortom, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that Ortom has already set up an Obi team using his most trusted aides and allies. Meanwhile, Chief Bode George of the Integrity Group disclosed why the G‑5 has not yet endorsed a presidential candidate six days before the election. He said the aggrieved governors have not met with the Integrity Group since their November 2022 gathering in Lagos, but a joint meeting will soon be arranged to harmonise the governors’ individual preferences. “In politics, 24 hours is a long time; multiply that by 22 and you see how much time is left for a decision. The G‑5 has been talking, but they want a comprehensive meeting with the Integrity Group for in‑depth analysis before announcing anything,” George said.
Former National Assembly member and PDP chieftain Senator Olaka Wogu added that the G‑5 is not divided over the presidential choice; its focus is on ensuring freedom and inclusiveness. “They have a stance and a method. The impact may not be what people expect, but what matters is conviction. They have never been divided. When you say they are, you see them together, and it is unending,” he asserted.
In a related development, Governor Wike declared that Rivers State voters would reject any party that has shown contempt for power‑sharing and inclusive governance in the upcoming presidential election. Speaking at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic’s field during an Obio‑Akpor Local Government Area rally organised by the state PDP Campaign Council, he emphasized Nigeria’s heterogeneous nature and urged voters to support national unity. Wike praised APC governors who have advocated for a shift of political power to the South, calling it proof of their understanding of Nigeria’s unity and the need for every region to feel an equal stake. “We will vote for the unity of Nigeria—equity, fairness, and justice. I salute the APC governors who say that for the country to be united, power must shift,” he said, urging citizens to stay vigilant and informed about national events.
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