Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, said that Nigeria could have been in serious trouble if the G5 governors didn’t take action during the 2023 general elections. According to him, their decision to go against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) helped keep the country stable during a tense time.
Wike spoke on June 8 to PDP members from all 36 states and the FCT. He explained that the G5, which included five governors, chose not to support the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, because they believed power should shift to the South, following the party’s zoning policy.
The G5 group was made up of Wike himself, Seyi Makinde from Oyo, Samuel Ortom from Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu from Abia, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from Enugu. They believed in the idea of power rotation and felt the party was not following that rule. Their opposition affected the PDP’s chances in the election and is seen as one of the reasons why the party lost.
Instead of supporting Atiku, the G5 governors chose to back Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who later won the election. Wike said this move was necessary to prevent political chaos in the country.
Wike said, “Whether people like us or not, if the G5 didn’t take that step, Nigeria would have faced a crisis.” He explained that it wasn’t about who gained from their actions but about doing what they believed was right, and they still stand by that decision today.
He also said that what the G5 did was in line with both the PDP’s rules and Nigeria’s constitution. He asked PDP leaders to think carefully about how their decisions affect the party and the country.
Wike said that if the PDP had listened to their concerns earlier, the party wouldn’t be in its current situation. He blamed the leadership’s refusal to listen for the problems they are now facing.
He also advised PDP members to avoid pride and selfish behavior. He called for unity and peace in the party and warned against pushing members away with harsh words or attitudes.
Despite everything, Wike said he still believes the PDP can recover and grow stronger again.
At the meeting, several important PDP leaders were present, including former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu, National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and former Senate Minority Leader Senator Philip Aduda.
