G-5 governors never agreed to support Peter Obi - Nyesom Wike clarifies

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that the G-5 governors never agreed to support presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, March 22, Wike noted that the G-5 governors made an agreement to ensure the emergence of a Southern President.

He said: “There was never a time the integrity Group met and say it must be this person. We only agreed on southern President. We formulated strategies and the southern President emerged. Our interest is that a southern President should emerge.

“When we went to our meeting, we decided on southern President. We didn’t say it must be this. We said whatever you are doing it must be southern President. The aim of G5 was equity, fairness and justice”.

According to the leader of the G-5, governors such as Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Samuel Ortom of Benue and Victor Ikpeazu of Abia sacrificed their seat for the emergence of southern President.

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State lost lost his senatorial bid to the Labour Party (LP) candidate for the district, Okechukwu Ezea. Samuel Ortom lost the race for Benue North-West Senatorial District. Also, Victor Ikpeazu was defeated by Enyinnaya Abaribe, to become winner of senatorial election in Abia South District.

Wike stated that although Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, won his reelection, he had earlier mentioned that he would not mind sacrificing his second term for equity, justice and fairness.

“Ortom said even if he loses his senatorial election, let equity, justice and fairness prevail. He may not gain it now. But history will be kind to him. Same applies to Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu. Even Makinde said even if he lost his governorship ambition, he was interested in the unity of Nigeria," Wike said.

He added, “We have different interest when you come to the south. People must choose who is likely to win election. To win election in Nigeria you must have the spread. What we are saying is that power should shift to the south.”

The famous G-5 Governors which include; Wike, Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State), Samuel Ortom (Benue State) and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State had a fall out with their presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar over the refusal of the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to relinquish his position to a southerner.

As a result of this, Wike and Makinde were reported to have agreed to openly work for Tinubu, while Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu reportedly agreed to work silently for the former Lagos State governor to avoid the wrath of the supporters of the Labour Party (LP), who have the capacity to frustrate their political ambitions in the South-east.

Ortom, on his part, decided to support Peter Obi. However, none of the G-5 made any public pronouncement. Ortom, in his press statement supporting Obi, acknowledged that as a member of the PDP, he would not lead Obi’s campaign.