G5 to announce preferred Aso Rock candidate, splitting Atiku’s votes
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors (G5) and their allies in the Integrity Group plan to announce in January their preferred candidate for the 2023 presidential vote, their leader Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has said.
Wike and the other G fivers – Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) – and their allies do not support PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar because of Iyorchia Ayu.
They want the PDP National Chairman to step down for a Southerner because he and Atiku are from the North. Atiku backs Ayu to stay in office.
“So, from January next year, I will campaign to my people who they will vote for. All of you who have been in suspense, who have been saying all kinds of things and abusing me, wait, January has come,” Wike said at the inauguration of the Rumuokwurusi-Elimgbu Flyover (10th flyover) in Rumuokwurusi Town.
“Not only will I tell them where they will vote, I will move from state to state and tell them why they should vote for the people I think they should vote for. Nothing will happen [if I do].”
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Wike on serial defectors
Wike insisted the Integrity Group would not support people with political inconsistencies, associations, and philosophy, wondering if they could, in good conscience, say they are fair to Nigerians and fit to lead the country, per The Nation
“Those of you who have never been stable, you moved from PDP to there and you moved from there back to PDP.
“Those of you who campaigned in 2015, telling Nigerians if they voted for PDP, they were voting for insurgency, if they voted for PDP, they were voting for corruption.
“Wait, all of us will get reply. We will tell Nigerians this thing that you said, how far now? Where do you still stand now? Is it the same PDP or a new PDP?
“So, all of you appearing on television abusing me, don’t waste your saliva again. January has come.
“All those of you who are telling Nigerians that you used to have 40 shoes, you used to have 50 wrist watches, time has come to convert those shoes and wrist watches to votes.
“It’s not to be on the podium and raise your shoes high. And raise your wrist watch high. Time has come to convert them to votes.
Wike on Abuja politicians
“Let me also use the opportunity to advise those of them who said that they are our brothers in Abuja. This 2023 election will confirm to us in Rivers State who are those that have influence on voters.
“Who are those that their people will listen to and vote. It is not only for you to be in Abuja and tell them whatever you’re telling them. Come home because our polling booths are not going to be in Abuja.
“This election will retire people in 2023. If they win us, we go. If we win them, they go. In fact, they have already gone.”
Wike said his administration has established a new political concept that would deepen understanding of how to endear the electorate and secure their votes.
He pledged the PDP in Rivers would not buy votes and would depend on projects implemented in all the 23 councils, and consistent payment of pensions and gratuities by his administration to win in 2023.
