Polls: Ortom breaks ranks, G5 Governors battle to save political careers

It’s exactly six days to the presidential election. If everything goes according to plan, Nigerians will be voting for candidates of their choice out of which one will be announced as President.

Leading the pack of 18 candidates are in no particular order: Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

The PDP has been in the news over its internal crisis following the activities of five of its aggrieved governors who have expressed displeasure with the party leadership over the continued stay in office of the National Chairman, Dr Iyiorchia Ayu.

The Governor Nyesom Wike-led group had hinted at the possibility of backing a single presidential candidate other than Atiku should Ayu remain in office against what they argued is against the letter and spirit of the PDP Constitution.

Specifically, they noted that the party’s Constitution provides that party and elective positions be zoned between the North and the South.

It is now clear that each member of the G5 Governors has opted to back different presidential candidates.

This is the sequel to their inability to reach a consensus on a single candidate to support as a result of the political peculiarities in their respective states.

The five aggrieved PDP governors, namely, Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), fell out with the party leadership after the emergence of Atiku Abubakar, as the party’s presidential standard bearer.

From the recent voter distribution summary, Rivers, Oyo and Benue States have 3.53million, 3.27million and 2.77millions votes, respectively, and, in that order, are ranked 4th, 6th and 9th of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in the chart made public by the INEC.

The five PDP governors had insisted that the National Chairman of the party, Ayu, resign from office to pave the way for a southerner since a northerner has emerged as the party’s candidate.

Sunday Vanguard gathered in Abuja, yesterday, that the governors, having realized that their choice of candidates may either promote or adversely affect their individual political fortunes, settled for candidates they believe would advance their chances.

Aside from Wike who is not contesting for any electoral position, his four other colleagues are contesting.

For example, Makinde is seeking re-election as governor in Oyo for a second term, the rest are seeking to install successors while also seeking Senate seats.

Makinde is being speculated to have given tacit support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.

This position, it was also gathered, aligns with that of Wike who, after a recent meeting with Tinubu in Port Harcourt, declared Tinubu as a “man of character “ who has not changed his political party

Ortom has not hidden his preference for Obi.

However, both Wike and Ortom, who have been the most vocal in the criticism of the Ayu-led PDP, have since obtained court injunctions restraining the PDP from either suspending or expelling them.

Their action followed the decision of the party to expel some of their loyalists who are candidates in Saturday’s elections.

Prominent among those sanctioned include former Enugu State Governor and senator representing Enugu East, Chimarole Nnamani, as well as the son of a former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose.

Ikpeazu, on his part, has been treading with caution as he has said the G5 agitation was a call for inclusiveness and not about the 2023 elections.

A top-ranking member of the party, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, told Sunday Vanguard, “Our internal issues are largely behind us.

“I can tell you, both Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu have agreed in principle to give Atiku the requisite support to win in their respective states and we have men on the ground to ensure victory for our party at all levels in all the five states Rivers inclusive.

“Apart from Wike and maybe Ortom, all the others have realised that they were misled into taking some of the actions they took, if not, why are people rushing to court to get restraining orders?”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/02/polls-ortom-breaks-ranks-g5-governors-battle-to-save-political-careers/

Obi is coming

I see North still retaining the power. They seem to be ahead of the game. The southern votes is divided and I don’t see the Northern giving up on their own (Atiku)

It’s either Obi or nobody

Wike is a foul mouthed, crass buffoon. A coward and he will sink into political oblivion no matter who wins. Where will he find sanctuary after his shenanigans? Labour? PDP? Or APC where his arch rival Amaechi is? The only feature he has as a leader is his ability to lead with the backing of government money. Take the money away and he's no better than a park tout at Upper Iweka. PDP truly dodged a bullet by refusing him the ticket.

.So many things to check in this election!

Does structure matter in politics?
Does campaign or online crowd translate to real votes?
Do visiting churches and inciting them to take back their country translate to votes?
Do ethnicity/religion/region matter in the pattern of voting?
How many predictions passed/failed and by what margin?
Was the cashless economy fruitful to the credibility of the election?

Ortom is not a blind follower. He has been outspoken and concise since day one unlike the two south eastern governors. Wike wanted to play politricks with his fellow governors but only ended up confusing his greedy self.

Ortom and Benue indigenes knows the mortal danger of voting in another Fulani after Buhari for Benue state. Someone who deleted a Twit condemning the gruesome murder of a student by religious bigots on the request of extremists should be a suspicious candidate.

It's better for Ortom to even sacrifice his senatorial ambition as PDP candidate and ensure victory for LP

Wike supported Tinubu not because he sees Tinubu as the best candidate but because of his hatred for Peter Obi. Let's see how Wike will force entire people of Rivers state to vote for agbado lord

Ortom knows that the real contest is between Asiwaju and Atiku; he also knows that as a state, Benue will go to Obi. So his support doesn't matter anyway.

My advice to Gov. Wike , he should just willingly join the youth train by declaring his support for peter Obi
If not
With his political carrier he might act titanic

Nawttiboi007:
I see North still retaining the power. They seem to be ahead of the game. The southern votes is divided and I don’t see the Northern giving up on their own (Atiku)

Not really. I bet you saw the mega rally in Borno yesterday, didn't you?
It is either Asiwaju or Tinubu.

If you are a student of politics....you should be able to read and see through this political maneuvering prism ...


The G-5 and Ortorm is selling Peter Obi in Benue State to further decimate the likely PDP votes in this PDP dominated State...Giving more advantage to APC presidential votes.. lead by Pastor Hyacinth in that State.

Many analyst still believe a vote for Peter Obi is a minus for PDP and a plus for APC.. especially at PDP traditional areas.


It's more like a divide and rule approach, atleast for the Presidential Election.

Df

amnesty7:

Not really. I bet you saw the mega rally in Borno yesterday, didn't you?
It is either Asiwaju or Tinubu.

Mega rally with sane rented crowds

You hardly listen to people talking in his rally

The kind of hardship in the country now,
I'll support any party to win as long as it's not APC.
APC has destroyed Nigeria almost beyond redemption.
All what APC government do is to borrow millions of dollars every month and share it among themselves on the pretext of developing the nation.

He's always been OBIdient... It's wike and makinde that have been trying to talk him out of it.

But the guy is fearless and committed to Justice

Obi has changed the game what manner of man is him so blessed

Rivers is PDP, PDP is Rivers wike is just doing gra gra

Any right thinking human being will agree with me that Ortom will not just sit down and endorse either APC or PDP bcuz of his re election. The only endorsement he made by supporting Obi is for his re election. Not that he cared for u. He has the control of PDP under his watch in Benue till now and during gov election, Obidients will also support him .
So he is been cautious and calculative. If he support APC in presidential, APC will not support him during his gov election. So get sense. He choose what favour him. Not that he like obi

Igbos are the only group in the world that will sell fake products to you at the price of original just like the way you are packaging a fraud that failed woefully as Anambra governor and some m.umu from other tribes are falling for the sc.am lol

APC in river state has been accomplished, compromise PDP chance in river state for us

godoluwa:


Mega rally with sane rented crowds

You hardly listen to people talking in his rally

Just six days to go: Asiwaju or Atiku. Do the honest maths.

The confused Ashebi geng
G5
Set awon Integrity Group
Make una travel go Cambodia go hold meetings na

Ortom is wise... The only presidential candidate that would absorb him with total acceptance is Obi.

Tinubu showed his forgiveness attitude with ambode

Atiku showed his with Obasanjo.

If atiku wins it's won't just be their political career that they would loose but their freedom.

Benue state is presidential Obidients


While Father Alia of APC prepares to occupy Benue government house.


Hon. Iorwase Herman Hembe will come 2nd under Labour party.

What exactly is the meaning of this post?