Presidency 2023: G-5 Govs And Their Preferred Candidates

With barely eight days to the general election, the five aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), known as G-5, and members of the Integrity Group have started pitching their tents with their preferred presidential candidate.

Naija News reports that the G5 governors – Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) have been calling for the removal of Senator Iyorchia Ayu, as the national chairman of the party, as part of demands to back PDP’s Atiku Abubakar.

The G-5 and the PDP Integrity Group had said Ayu should resign his appointment since former Vice President Atiku emerged as the PDP presidential candidate, arguing that two key posts cannot come from the North.

While Wike, who had promised to name his preferred presidential candidate, has yet to make any such public announcement, it is becoming more apparent how and where the G-5 and other party leaders, who would instead back a southern president, stand as the election inches closer.

According to ThisDay, Wike appears to be leaning towards the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate,  Bola Ahmed Tinubu as his candidate, even though he has not publicly announced this.

Wike is not alone in the support drive for Tinubu, a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has also elected to back the former Lagos State governor.

On their part, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom; former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko; his Cross River State counterpart, Donald Duke; former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Chief Bode George and former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, have enlisted support for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, have remained undecided on who to back despite the election only days away. In contrast, the Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has returned to the candidate of his party, Atiku, whom he warmly received recently in the state for a presidential rally.

Meanwhile, Ortom on Thursday announced the presidential candidate of the Labour Party as his preferred presidential candidate.

Naija News learned that Ortom, during a Town Hall meeting, revealed that he is working for Obi in the state.

He noted that his support for Obi is on the conviction that the former governor of Anambra State is mentally and physically prepared for the task of getting the country working again.

Ortom, who was a guest at the Town Hall meeting, which had stakeholders from the 276 Council Wards of the state, got a rousing ovation from the participants who chanted his name and that of Obi.

According to the Benue State Governor, the time has come for Nigerians to jettison political affiliation and loyalty and choose a God-fearing, capable and competent hand who would rescue the country from its present sorry state.

He said, “we have come to a time where we must leave out sentiments and save Nigeria by looking at individuals who can lead with the fear of God and provide gainful employment for the youths.

“We must, in this 2023, fashion a new Nigeria, Nigeria that will give the people equity, fairness, and justice.

“The PDP has failed Nigerians, APC has failed Nigerians, political parties have failed Nigerians, even Labour Party has failed Nigerians. We must therefore look at individuals, those people who can deliver.

“So, this is not about the party, I am not in Labour Party, but I am working for Peter Obi. Peter Obi will make sure that we sleep with our two eyes closed. These unnecessary killings that are going on in our country will stop.

“I have chosen to support him. I appreciate you all for choosing Peter Obi. Of the three presidential candidates, Peter Obi has the character and competence to lead Nigeria.”