G5 members absent as Atiku meets incoming, outgoing PDP governors
… Our party receding since 2014–Atiku laments
The Thursday get-together organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in honour of the governors-elect and send forth for outgoing governors elected on the party’s platform was not attended by five governors under the aegis of the G5.
The G5 members included governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
The falling-out between Atiku and the G5 began after the May 2022 presidential primary of the party, which saw Atiku emerge as the nominee, widely considered a contravention of the party’s constitution and zoning principle.
The G5 governors were appointed into the PDP presidential campaign council but they withdrew their membership and boycotted its inauguration.
They were also absent at the flag-off of the PDP presidential campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and have continued to boycott activities organised by Mr Atiku and the national leadership of the party.
At the Thursday meeting, the Presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 election and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was at the gathering, who addressed the gathering insisted that the party did not lose the election.
He lamented that the PDP which started as the dominant political party in 1999, had started receding since 2014.
On the timing of the event, Atiku said: “Next time this kind of event can be organised earlier in the day, to allow us to have more time so that all the issues, and challenges, facing the party can be discussed.
“Let me congratulate you especially those that have been elected or reelected to various offices. We have a number of challenges, we started as a dominant political party in 1999, but since then we have been receding, it is time to take stock and find out why we are receding, and how can we make sure that our position as the leading political party in the country can be regained.
“This is a very important challenge that requires a whole day seminar so that we can, as a party, regain our eminent position in the country.”
In his remarks, a former Vice President, Arc Namadi Sambo, sued for peace and unity in the party.
He stated: “I want to call for peace and unity because what is happening in some states today is very unfortunate. I will give an example of Kaduna state. What is happening in Kaduna state today is, people are being suspended from the party left, right and center without due process.
“I want to seize this opportunity to publicly ask the acting National Chairman to look into what is happening in Kaduna state because all the ingredients for trouble and problem in the party are taking place.
“Likewise, other states; so I want to seize the opportunity to call on all party members to cooperate and let the party continue to work, and ensure that our mandate is brought back to us.”
In his remarks, Chairman PDP Governors Forum and Sokoto state Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said they were happy to bequeath a forum “that is strong, cohesive, and vocal in the defense of democracy and good governance in the country.”
He expressed hope that with the calibre of governors elected, the forum would be in good hands.
On the ongoing Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Tambuwal said: “We are hopeful that Atiku Abubakar and PDP’s mandate will be restored by the Courts”.
Those who attended the event were Chairman PDP Board of Trustees Senator Adolphus Wabara, Governors Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Godwin Obaseki of Edo and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi.
Governors-elect present includes; Sherrif Oborevwori of Delta, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Agbu Kefas of Taraba and Peter Mbah of Enugu, while Akwa Ibom deputy governor-elect, Senator Akin Eyankeyi represented the governor-elect, Pastor Umo Eno.
Other party leaders present are former governors; Ahmed Makarfi, Babangida Aliyu, Ramalan Yero, Emeka Ihedioha, Senators Biodun Olujinmi, Abdul Ningi and Chukwuka Utazi.
