Working Against PDP Prevented Nigeria from Descending into Crisis – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that Nigeria could have descended into crisis if the G5 governors had not taken a stand against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 general election.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday during a meeting with his friends under the aegis of “Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP” from the 36 states and the FCT, Wike defended the actions of the G5, saying their decision helped to stabilise the country during a politically sensitive period.

Wike, who led the group of five then-sitting governors, said their decision to oppose PDP’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was in line with the principles of fairness and zoning enshrined in the party’s constitution. The G5 included Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu.

“We have continued to emphasise that the party’s constitution and that of the country should be respected. You may like us, you may hate us; the truth is if the G5 did not take our decision, this country would have been in crisis,” Wike said.

The group had insisted that the PDP’s 2023 presidential ticket should have gone to a southern candidate in the interest of equity, rather than to Atiku, a northerner. Their refusal to support Atiku and their quiet endorsement of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were widely seen as factors that influenced the PDP’s poor performance in the election.

“It doesn’t matter who the beneficiary was, but the right thing had to be done, and we still stand by that decision,” Wike declared.

He also warned against arrogance and impunity among party leaders, urging them to prioritise unity and reconciliation to rescue the PDP from its current challenges.

“Ours is to continue to pacify people and bring them together and desist from saying that they should go to hell. Let us not allow greed; let us not allow ego to kill our party,” he advised.

Despite the internal crisis, Wike expressed optimism about the future of the PDP and called on stakeholders to work towards rebuilding the party.

Present at the meeting were former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Samuel Ortom, and Okezie Ikpeazu, along with Embattled PDP National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu and former Senate Minority Leader Senator Philip Aduda.