Politics
2023: PDP G5 Governors Consider Endorsing Tinubu At London Meeting
The PDP G5 governors are considering an endorsement of Tinubu.
Eko Hot Blog reports that five governors under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are considering choosing the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, as their preferred candidate for the 2023 general election.
EDITOR’S PICKS
BACKGROUND
The PDP crisis started with the nomination of Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general election.
Atiku, thereafter, picked Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta governor, as his running mate, a move that reportedly contributed to the current crisis in the party, especially as some members of the PDP national working committee (NWC) endorsed Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers as the vice-presidential candidate.
Following the development, Wike and his allies have called for the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu as the party’s national chairman, on the grounds that Ayu cannot hail from the same region (north) as the presidential candidate.
Despite several attempts to resolve the crisis, the party is still at an impasse, and Wike, backed by four other PDP governors, is yet to declare his support for the party’s presidential candidate.
The crisis birthed what is now known as the G5 or the ‘Integrity Group’, which includes PDP governors such as Wike, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Samuel Ortom of Benue, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu — and other PDP stakeholders.
APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu
‘G5′ LONDON MEETING
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the aggrieved PDP governors met in London, United Kingdom, on Tuesday to decide their preferred presidential candidate.
They are reportedly undecided over whether to back Tinubu or Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
Vanguard reported that “a usually reliable source” within the G-5 governors camp told the newspaper that, “The governors are considering giving their support to either of the two.”
“One of the governors is making a case for Obi, but others argue that he lacks the support base to cover the 36 states and Abuja,” the source was quoted as saying.
“Those in this camp argue that should he emerge victorious we will be returning to square one because he will not enjoy the majority in the National Assembly and thus will find it difficult to pass legislation required for him to make the reforms he has been conversing.
“On the other hand, those among them making a case for Asiwaju are of the view that the party, being the ruling party, has the requisite spread.
“They also allude to the fact that the candidate so far appears to recognize the disaster the APC represents at the Centre and had concentrated on using successes recorded in Lagos as example of what he intends to do when he gets into office; would endear him to Nigerians.
“Politics is all about negotiations they are still taking. One thing they agree on is their determination to ensure that the next president emerges from Southern Nigeria.”
PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar
Meanwhile, Atiku and his campaign have expressed optimism about his prospects in the 2023 elections despite the five aggrieved governors undermining him at every chance they get.
FURTHER READING
Spokesperson of the Atiku-Okowa Campaign Organisation, Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan, told Vanguard that facts on the ground supported the campaign’s confidence of a sweeping victory for the PDP presidential at first ballot.
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