More information has come to light regarding the reasons why the five disgruntled governors running on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party have not yet decided whose presidential candidate they will support after having a disagreement with Atiku Abubakar, the nominee of their own party.
The team’s governors, led by Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, were unable to settle on a single candidate during their weeklong tour of the UK.
There have been hints that Atiku, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party, the G-5 and its extended Integrity Group, which includes several former governors and party bigwigs, may all get support.
However, with just over 55 days until the February 25 presidential election, many Nigerians had hoped that the G-5 governors’ meeting in London would ultimately result in the selection of their favourite candidate. However, it became apparent that they could not agree on a candidate to support in the election.
Sources close to the meeting said that the unhappy governors hadn’t decided who to back yet because they all had different goals and interests.
Makinde, who will conclude his second term as governor on May 29, 2023, is running for reelection on the PDP platform, while Ortom, Ugwuanyi, and Ikpeazu are all running for Senate seats in their respective districts. Even though Wike, the most vocal of them, is not running for any office in the upcoming elections, the governor has been actively supporting the PDP candidate for governor.
According to sources close to the group, the governors decided not to publicly support the party’s presidential candidate or any other contender following their rumoured meeting with Tinubu in London in order to protect their prospects of winning the election.
The governors were reportedly highly divided over the choices, according to one of the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the matter.
According to the source, many people are aware that former President Olusegun Obasanjo persuaded them to support Peter Obi’s candidacy. He wants the current governors to support the former governor of Anambra State. Out of respect for the past president, some people initially accepted his recommendation.
However, it became obvious that Obi might not win the election, and the governors talked about it but did not adopt a position as a result of realising this.
“You also know that before seeing the governors in person, the APC’s presidential candidate dispatched representatives to them.” In particular, Wike, with whom he had bargained. However, the other governors are concerned that such a settlement would backfire on them in their respective states.
“The South-East does not have a great deal of support for the APC or its presidential candidate. In reality, the zone’s residents are upset over some remarks allegedly made by Kashim Shettima, the APC vice presidential candidate, in the past. When party members travelled to Imo State for advice, the people abandoned him because of this.
READ ALSO: PDP issues sanctions as G-5 leaders meet with Tinubu in the UK
Since the PDP controlled the zone, it was learned that it might be hard for governors from the area to support the APC without hurting their own interests.
Another insider said, “The South-East is traditionally for the PDP, while the Labour Party is making inroads into the region through Obi.” They are probably going to support Atiku and the PDP because they are afraid of the populace and have personal ambitions.
“In addition, no governor will refuse to want a successor.” They won’t want to endanger their political future by confusing their supporters with contradictory orders.
The insider also mentioned how close in position Ortom and Makinde were to one another.
“For instance, in Benue, the governor has never veiled his rage at the APC,” the insider said. Recall that while the party declined to support him for a second term, the PDP did so. He had engaged in conflict with practically every influential member of the opposition.
“Like the APC candidate, his choice is likewise unpopular.” He will lose the election with his candidate if he misleads the electorate.
“Makinde has a lot of adversaries in the PDP. The governor’s treatment of individuals like Bisi Olopoeyan and Mulikat Akande-Adeola during the previous primaries and others has left them and their followers still enraged. But his adversaries are growing.
Remember that Senator Teslim Folarin of the APC and Bayo Adelabu of the Accord Party are both eyeing the governor’s seat in Oyo State and waiting for Makinde to make a mistake so they may profit from it. The fact that they are even discussing establishing a coalition to oppose Makinde shows how important it is for the governors to survive first.
But rumour has it that one of the South-East governors, whose identity has been concealed, paid Atiku a visit a few days ago and assured him of his commitment.
According to a person who was present, “The governor proceeded to Abuja.” He said he was supporting Wike because of their friendship and the benefits he had received from him, and that he would work for him and the PDP. In addition, he declared that Atiku and the PDP were the only political parties and candidates he would ever support.
