January Vow: Wike-Led G5 Fails To Name Presidential Candidate

 

Five governors, who are members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have failed to name their preferred presidential candidate in January as promised by their leader, Governor Nyesom Wike in December, Daily Trust reports. Dubbed G-5, the governors; Wike, Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) have vowed to work against their party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. The governors are insisting that the PDP presidential candidate and national chairman cannot be from the same region.

The governors had held a series of meetings with the candidate of the ruling APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi. In December, they met with Tinubu in London, where they reportedly struck a deal on the 2023 presidency. Wike, who leads the group, had on December 22nd said they will name their preferred candidate in January. But he did not as of Tuesday, the last day of the month. Speaking, while commissioning a project in Port Harcourt, Wike said he will not only tell his people who to vote for but will campaign for his choice of the presidential candidate throughout the country. “Nothing will happen.”

 

Govs in tight corners over local peculiarities

The governors are having difficulties reaching a compromise on the preferred candidate because of what is tagged ‘’local peculiarities’’, it was gathered last night. A source close to the G-5 told Daily Trust that the governors might not come to a compromise on any preferred candidate as they might be forced to work individually based on local peculiarities. “If you remember the last time the governors travelled out of the country, they were supposed to agree on the way forward but that was not possible. Many reports said they were going to endorse Tinubu, but there were too many diversities in the states that the governors will find it difficult to come to a compromise,” he said.

 

Abia gov lobbies to replace late anointed candidate

The Abia State governor has commenced subtle moves to get the support of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP to be able to replace the late governorship candidate of the party, Prof. Uche Ikonne, who died last week. Ikpeazu, a source in Abia State said is seeking the support of the NWC to anoint his Chief of Staff, Okey Ahiwe, as the party’s governorship candidate. A source in the Abuja secretariat of the PDP, said; “Abia governor is confused because of the demise of his anointed candidate. He is begging for him to be allowed to produce the next flag bearer.”

 

Ortom’s rooting for Obi

To actualise his senatorial bid and install his successor, Ortom, it was gathered is tilting towards Obi. He has previously hailed Obi during his visit to Makurdi. “His body language suggested that he is rooting for Obi of LP,” the source said. Another source said if Ortom endorses Tinubu, it would negatively affect the candidature of the PDP governorship candidate and boost the chances of the APC.

 

Wike likely to back Tinubu

Daily Trust reliably gathered from close sources that Wike has perfected plans to announce Tinubu as his preferred presidential candidate for the 2023 elections. It was learnt that the announcement would have been made weeks ago after it became obvious that reconciliation with Atiku has completely broken down, but Wike and his supporters are working on getting the other four governors in the group a better deal. “It was obvious that Atiku was only buying time. He wasn’t open to genuine reconciliation with the Integrity Group. Wike sensed this earlier but he was warned that declaring for Tinubu might jeopardise the chances of the other governors,” a source told Daily Trust.

 

Oyo gov bending towards Atiku

In Oyo State, posters of Atiku and Makinde have emerged contrary to what was obtainable weeks ago. It was learnt that Makinde feared that his second term might be in jeopardy if he continued his open rejection of Atiku. A source close to Atiku said the attendance of the Oyo State deputy, chairman of the PDP and other chieftains of the party at Atiku’s campaign rally in Ibadan showed that Makinde was bending towards the former vice president.

 

Source: Dailytrust

 

 

2023: I’m negotiating with Peter Obi, Kwankwaso – Atiku, says one of them may ‘Step down’

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has said that he is in touch with the presidential candidate of New Nigerian People Party (NNPP) Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso for possible support. In an interview with BBC Hausa service, Atiku said he is also holding talks with the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi.

He said the duo of Obi and Kwankwaso are not in anyway a threat to his chances in the election. “I see no threat because we are not together with them (Kwankwaso and Obi). We are in talks with them, one of them may possibly come,” he said.

On the PDP Crisis, Atiku said, “Each party has its internal crisis, we are still talking with them. Most are neither in PDP nor in other parties and definitely that will not make us loose the election because we okay with the elections preparations for now.” “Elections now is not like in the past when a governor will dictate who to vote for, elections today is in the hands of the voters.” The presidential candidate also promised to open all Nigeria’s borders if elected president.

 

Source: Politics Nigeria

 

 

PDP chair dumps party, joins APC in Yobe

The ward Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of Damagum ‘B’ of Fune Local Government Area in Yobe State has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. The new entrant, Usman Siminti, was received into the APC by the State Deputy Governor, Idi Barde Gubana, on behalf of the party.

Gubana admonished the ex-PDP ward chair to rally round policies and programmes of the APC-led administration in the State and work hard to deliver APC at all levels during the forthcoming general elections. The APC State Chairman, Mohammed Gadaka in his remarks, assured Usman Siminti and his supporters of equal opportunities in the State.

Responding, the former PDP ward chairman, Siminti assured the leadership of the APC that he and his supporters would work tirelessly to see that APC emerged victorious at all levels in the State. He pledged to persuade more PDP supporters in his ward to join the ruling party.

 

Source: Dailypost