The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) five disgruntled governors, also known as the G-5 governors, met with the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Senator Bola Tinubu, in London, according to reports. The main opposition party has stated that it will wait until the five governors have chosen their preferred presidential candidate before taking any action against them.
The five governors met with Tinubu, and four of them reportedly agreed to support the former governor of Lagos State in the February 25, 2023, election. The five governors are Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, and Samuel Ortom of Benue State. They previously had supported the PDP’s presidential candidate According to the agreement, Wike and Makinde committed to publicly support Tinubu while Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu agreed to work behind the scenes to ensure the APC candidate’s victory out of concern for the Southeast.
However, Ortom reportedly chose to work for Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate. But Tinubu yesterday denied that he met with the five governors as stated, despite the numerous signs that the meeting indeed took place. According to reports, Tinubu’s stance came after protests from the APC candidates in the states of Oyo and Rivers, who expressed outrage that a deal had been made to give up their places without their input.
Udom Emmanuel, the governor of Akwa Ibom State and the head of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, met with Wike and Ortom yesterday.
Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal disclosed the PDP’s stance.
The PDP is a law-abiding party, according to Tambuwal, who also serves as director general of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organization, thus it won’t take a position on unfounded rumors.
The governor of Sokoto State responded to news of a secret meeting between Tinubu and the five governors by stating that the PDP is a law-abiding party and would pursue legal means to prosecute any of its disloyal members.
He stated the party would hold off until the G-5 governors issued a formal statement.