There are indications that the Integrity Group of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), also known as the G-5, will announce its position on presidential candidates in the hours leading up to the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
The group of five governors, led by Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, failed to publicly endorse one of their presidential candidates in January as promised.
Other members of the group are: Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia). A source close to one of the governors told The Guardian that Wike and his group “strategically changed their mind” from announcing a presidential candidate in January due to “some recent political developments.”
He said, “You know he is a politician and has to react to some unexpected issues. But he will tell his supporters who will vote about 24 hours to the election. Also, don’t expect him to go on air to announce but his supporters will get the message. .
The G-5 has been fighting a running battle with the PDP over the refusal of the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to step down, following the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.
Wike and his members said that Iyorchia remained the national chairman of the party against the party’s principle of rotation of power and the federal character clause, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
An investigation by The Guardian revealed that the inability of the defeated PDP governors to support the presidential candidate may have forced them to remain silent and allow everyone to endorse the candidate.
Ortom has publicly endorsed the Labor Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, while his Oyo State counterpart, Makinde, has yet to announce his choice. It was gathered that the remaining three governors – Wike, Ikpeazu and Ugwuanyi – were also divided over the choice.