Rift in PDP widens as five governors under the aegis of the G5 shunned a meeting of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, with current and incoming governors.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Nearly three months after the February 25 presidential election, the rift in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership appears to widen as five governors under the aegis of the G5 shunned a meeting of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, with current and incoming governors.
Although G-5 Governors – Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), were invited to the interactive session by Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, they declined. None of them sent a representative.
Tambuwal had planned to bring Atiku, Okowa, PDP leadership and G5 governors together under the same roof, following their parting of ways before the general election.
During the meeting at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Atiku emphasised the need to reposition the main opposition party.
A statement by the Director-General of the PDP Governors Forum, CID Maduabum, stated that the event was meant to serve as an opportunity for PDP leaders, stakeholders and members to come together for the first time after the election.
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It was gathered that the organisers had planned to explore the possibility of initiating discussions that could birth a fresh reconciliation process. Although, Enugu State governor-elect, Peter Mbah attended the meeting, Ugwuanyi stayed away.
Rivers State governor-elect, Simi Fubara did not attend the event, apparently because Governor Wike also did not show up.
Our correspondent gathered that Atiku did not appear ruffled by their absence.
“This afternoon, I joined other party leaders at the welcome reception for newly elected and returning governors, as well as send-forth for outgoing governors of our great party, the @OfficialPDPNig,” Atiku tweeted on Thursday.
“While congratulating the outgoing governors for having flown the flag of our party high with pride, I urge the incoming ones to set the pace for good governance in their respective states—as the hallmark of the PDP”, he added.
The face-off between Atiku and the G5 began after the May 2022 presidential primary of the party, which saw Atiku emerge as the nominee, in what was seen as a contravention of the party’s constitution and zoning principle.
The five governors banded together in their struggle for “equity, fairness and justice”. Among their demands was that the PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, step down to resolve the complication of the presidential candidate and top party chief being from the same region.
The demand was not heeded. Still, in the lead-up to the February 25 presidential election, the G5 — also known as the Integrity Group — remained unequivocal in their refusal to support Atiku, a northerner, on the PDP’s zoning principles.
Atiku’s loss at the February 25 poll, has been partly attributed to the conflict between him and the aggrieved PDP governors. The crisis has also weakened the party to the point that three of the G5 governors – Ikpeazu, Ortom and Ugwuanyi who contested for Senate lost in their various constituencies.