A former commissioner in Rivers State has disclosed that three out of the five dissident governors of the Peoples Democratic Party have decided to support Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi for the 2023 election.
Better known as G5, the governors who are currently meeting in London to reach a joint decision ahead of next year’s polls have been up in arms against their party for truncating the zoning arrangement for political offices.
The ex-Rivers commissioner, who pleaded anonymity, according to NAN, spoke with some reporters in Abuja on Wednesday. The source confirmed that the agitation by the G5 governors have narrowed down to power shift to the South in line with the Lagos declaration by the southern governors.
The source mentioned that while three out of the five governors routing for the LP presidential candidate are compelled by Mr Obi’s sterling records, the other two are playing some wit games for political survival.
She stated: “You know the Presidential contest is like a beauty contest, where only the registered participants are considered. The G5 governors agree that Obi is not a saint, but comes with fresher characteristics than the other candidates.
“In the first place, it was these contrasting qualities, plus Muslim-Muslim ticket that attracted the mass following among major electoral demography, the youths, across the length and breadth of the country for Obi.
“So, I can tell you authoritatively, the three governors in support of Obi are contending that although APC has spread, it will be disastrous and suicidal if they support Tinubu with awkward ticket against their people, majority of who are for Obi.
“The three governors are therefore mindful of Electoral Act 2022 and the enormous powers and independence it has given to the electorate.”
On where Mr Wike stood in the divide, the former commissioner noted that the Rivers governor knew that all politics was local, adding, “Wike is not entirely against Asiwaju, but is deeply concerned about how his political traducers in the state would react if he slips.”
Meanwhile, Osita Okechukwu, the Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON) has expressed satisfaction with the consensus on power rotation among the members of the G5 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors.
Mr Okechukwu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said G5 governors’ position tallies with the noble and courageous stance of their 19 northern APC counterparts, which led to the emergence of former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu as APC’s presidential candidate.
“Equity, fairness and justice demand that for national loyalty no one section should dominate the other. This is the injustice PDP deliberately wants to bequeath Nigerians.”
While remarking that the G5 consensus on rotation of presidency to the South has effectively ruled out the PDP Presidential candidate, Mr Okechukwu noted that it was left to the group to decide between the two front runners from South, Messrs Tinubu and Obi.
“This latest London conference by the G5 governors led by Nyesom Wike, comes as the defining moment for them to take a decisive stand that would guide their followers. It also sounds the death knell for any possible reconciliation within PDP,” he stated.