The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has credited the actions of the G5 governors during the 2023 general elections with preserving Nigeria’s stability, asserting that their resistance to the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) internal policies prevented national turmoil.
Speaking at a high-level meeting with Concerned PDP Stakeholders at his Abuja residence, Wike — a prominent member of the G5 — maintained that the current challenges confronting the PDP were self-inflicted, stemming from its refusal to embrace power rotation after eight years of Northern presidency under Muhammadu Buhari.
“You may like us or hate us, but the truth is, if the G5 had not taken our stand, this country would be in crisis today. We prioritised the constitution over impunity. Had the PDP listened, we wouldn’t be in this mess,” Wike stated emphatically.
The strategic meeting was attended by former governors Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Senator Sam Anyanwu, and lawmakers from across the country’s 36 states.
Wike did not mince words in criticising the PDP leadership, accusing it of allowing “selfish interests and greed” to erode party unity and core values. He called for a return to the principles of the party’s founding fathers.
The FCT Minister also pointed to alleged double standards within the party, citing the case of Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, whom he accused of contesting for the governorship ticket while still serving as the state PDP chairman — a move he argued contravenes due process.
“Politicians must stop exploiting loopholes to suit their ambitions. This must end if the party is to survive,” Wike warned.
Backing Wike’s position, former Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, admitted the PDP had committed grave mistakes, urging the party to seek divine intervention.
“The PDP needs God’s face to regain leadership. We must respect the laws — both party and national,” Ortom added.
The G5 governors — Wike, Ortom, Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) — had opposed the presidential candidacy of Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 election, citing violations of the party’s zoning arrangement.
Their rebellion led to deep divisions within the PDP. Wike’s subsequent appointment to President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, while he remains a PDP member, has further fuelled internal tensions within the party.
As the PDP grapples with leadership crises and internal discontent, calls are growing louder for reform and adherence to democratic principles to restore the party’s credibility.
