Hints: Wike May Back Tinubu, Makinde Likely Backing Peter Obi as G5 Governors Jet Out to Decide

The five aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, popularly known as the G5, have reportedly jetted out of the country to decide which presidential candidate to support in the 2023 presidential election.

While they may have resolved not to back the presidential candidate of their party, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the G5 will have to decide between Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).

Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu states and some political heavyweights from the South – known as the Integrity Group – are at loggerheads with Atiku following the refusal of the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu to resign.

Also known as the Integrity Group, the G5 had hinted that they will reveal the presidential candidate they would support in January 2023, few weeks to the February 25 presidential poll.

According to The PUNCH, the five aggrieved governors would in the days ahead begin campaigns against the PDP presidential candidate in their respective states, stressing the issues of trust and loyalty to the party in their campaigns.

Sources said the River State governor and his colleagues planned to brand Atiku as a serial defector who cannot be trusted with power by the electorate.

Nevertheless, Wike’s body language so far has not given out a clear preference but reports say that he may be supporting the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

An unconfirmed report suggests that the tough-talking governor was not sure of the ability of Peter Obi to garner sufficient votes across the country.

Speaking on the campaign, an associate of the Benue State governor said the five governors “have agreed among themselves to support a presidential candidate from the South.

“Governor Ortom is clear about it that it is not right to have another President of Fulani extraction after eight years of a Fulani President. His argument is that when Olusegun Obasanjo was leaving office in 2007, he was against Peter Odili succeeding him because it would have been against the spirit of fairness. That is why he picked and campaigned for Umaru Yar’Adua.”

The source noted that Governor Ortom is against another Northerner and a Fulani man take over from President Muhammadu Buhari, who is also Fulani man.

‘’From the get-go, he was in the forefront of the move for a Southerner to take over power in 2023. This is the position of the five governors. Some may be working for other candidates and I understand that Nyesom Wike is working with Tinubu,” he said.

Confirming this development to The PUNCH, the immediate past Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Diran Odeyemi said Makinde may have a soft spot for Peter Obi.

He said: “A lot of political games are going on. In Oyo State, the deputy governor, Bayo Lawal, has been attending events of the Atiku campaign organisation even though his boss is a member of G-5.

“Seyi (Makinde) is not ready to lose his re-election bid and is therefore keeping his choice close to his chest. He may have instructed his foot soldiers on what to do but he would be wise enough to go with the crowd in the end.

“Nothing can be ruled out for now and if he thinks working with Atiku can help his cause, he will go for it. Wherever the pendulum swings, he will take the glory.”