Emerging facts from the London meeting of the G-5 aggrieved governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, indicate a sharp disagreement over the choice of a presidential candidate to support.
Feelers from sources close to the meeting revealed that there is a major crack in the ranks of the G-5 as some of them stakes in the 2023 elections, have suddenly developed cold feet and not keen in supporting any candidate outside the PDP.
Specifically, it was gathered that Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Ikeazu of Abia State, both of whom have senatorial ambitions, insisted that it would be better to remain neutral if they are not to support the presidential candidate of the PDP but must not be seen supporting any other party’s candidate.
It was further gathered that the latest position of Ortom and Ikpeazu was against the backdrop of the fact that supporting any other Party’s candidate would spell doom for them in the PDP as the two of them are running for Senate and sponsoring governorship candidate on the platform of the Party.
They were quoted to have canvassed the fact that it would be difficult to make voters understand and distinguish between the ballot paper of the presidential candidate and those of the Senate and House of House of Representatives which would be taking place simultaneously, stressing that majority of the voters in the rurals areas can easily be misled with such a move.
It was gathered Ortom specifically suggested that as a way out of the long jam, the G-5 should toe the middle path by giving the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, the opportunity to sign a resignation letter indicating that he would resign and leave office immediately after the 2023 General Elections irrespective of the Party winning or not.
The position of Ortom and Ikpeazu was believed to had gotten Wike so infuriated that he angrily stood up and walked out on colleagues.
It was also gathered that Wike is highly disturbed over the fact that his former boss and main political rival in Rivers State, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi is holding meetings with the Presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar and may likely defect to the PDP any moment from now if the negotiations are concluded.
If political arrangement between Atiku and Amaechi eventually works out, the political dynamics in Rivers State in favour of Atiku may alter positively in his favour particularly against the backdrop of the fact that most of the strong politicians that hitherto backed Wike in the State have swing their support base to the presidential candidate of the PDP.
