The aggrieved southern governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, popularly known as G-5 Governors have allegedly arrived at a final decision on preferred presidential candidates to support in the 2023, presidential election.
They are said to have zeroed in on the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Peter Obi who ranks top on their list.
The LP candidate may have “won the heart of the governors because of his capacity, age, and performance on the NOI polls so far,” sources to Businessday Thursday Morning.
The G-5 governors traveled to London on Monday for what is considered a “strategic meeting” ahead of their plans to unveil who the group will back in the February presidential election.
PDP G5 Governors led by Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, has Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
Their meeting in London is aimed at deliberating on the candidate to support for presidency in the 2023 general election.
The decision to endorse Peter Obi may not be unconnected with his “ability to engage with people of all tribes and the capacity he has demonstrated so far,” a source close to Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, told BusinessDay in Abuja.
The source, who spoke on conditions of anonymity stated that Peter Obi used the visit to Benue to woo Ortom to support him.
“As you are aware, Obi was here in Benue last week and my governor, Samuel Ortom received him and we the people of this state are very happy because of his love for the common man.”
“I will not be surprised if they endorse him. They may have looked at the fact that he has the capacity, age is on his side; his commitment to the Nigerian project is genuine. He has shown that he is selfless and is loved by both the young and the elderly. So, these may have informed their decision. Above all, if you have followed the pre-election polls so far, he is ahead of other candidates.”
The G5 Governors, who are expected back in the country on Friday, December 30, will make their decision public early next year in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The media adviser to the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Ike Abonyi, while also speaking to BusinessDay on the issue, however, noted that “the endorsement remains in the realm of speculations.”
“Until we hear from them, whatever you are hearing now is still in the realm of speculation. These are all permutations. From January they are going to come out.
“The truth is that as it stands now, it would be suicidal for anyone in the south-south or southeast to endorse anybody outside of Peter Obi.”
Abonyi noted that the governors were weighing all options, adding that they will go for whoever is ready to protect their interests.
“They are weighing all options and making demands from everyone that they are romancing. So, if they do not want to support Atiku Abubakar, as they have vowed not to, the only option available will be Peter Obi.