Wike: G5 Governors Prevented National Crisis During 2023 Elections
Abuja, Nigeria – June 9, 2025: In a bold and reflective statement, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has asserted that the actions taken by the G5 Governors during the 2023 presidential election were instrumental in preventing Nigeria from plunging into chaos.
Speaking during a meeting with members of the “Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP” drawn from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT, Wike defended the controversial decision by the G5 Governors to oppose their party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike, the former governor of Rivers State and a key figure in the G5 alliance, argued that their stance was not based on personal interests but on principle — particularly the need to uphold the North-South zoning agreement, which he says the PDP leadership failed to honor.
“You may like us, you may hate us; the truth is if G5 did not take our decision, this country would have been in crisis,” Wike stated with conviction.
“It doesn’t matter who the beneficiary was, but the right thing had to be done, and we still stand by that decision.”
Who Are the G5 Governors?
The G5, sometimes referred to as the “Integrity Group,” comprised five influential PDP governors at the time:
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Nyesom Wike (Rivers)
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Seyi Makinde (Oyo)
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Samuel Ortom (Benue)
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Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia)
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Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu)
The bloc became prominent during the lead-up to the 2023 elections, voicing strong opposition to the PDP’s choice of a northern candidate after President Muhammadu Buhari, also from the North, had completed his two-term tenure. They argued that fairness and political balance demanded the party support a southern candidate.
Wike Criticizes PDP Leadership for Ignoring Zoning Principle
Wike did not mince words as he once again criticized the PDP’s leadership for ignoring the party’s own constitution on zoning and power rotation. He maintained that this failure contributed directly to the party’s poor performance at the polls.
“We have continued to emphasise that the party’s constitution and that of the country should be respected,” Wike said. “If the party had listened to what we said, we wouldn’t have been where we are today.”
He accused certain figures within the PDP of behaving with impunity and warned that greed and ego were driving forces behind the party’s current woes.
“Let us not allow greed; let us not allow ego to kill our party,” he warned. “Ours is to continue to pacify people and bring them together and desist from saying that they should go to hell.”
Hope for PDP’s Future
Despite the turbulence within the PDP and the divisive nature of the G5’s actions, Wike remains hopeful about the party’s future. He called on stakeholders to bury personal ambitions and work toward rebuilding unity and restoring public confidence in the opposition party.
The meeting in Abuja was attended by several prominent PDP figures, including:
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Former Governors Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Okezie Ikpeazu
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PDP National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu
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Former Senate Minority Leader Senator Philip Aduda
Their presence underscored the seriousness of the discussions and the shared desire among party members to mend the internal cracks threatening the PDP’s existence as a viable opposition force.
A Party at a Crossroads
The comments by Wike and the unified appearance of the G5 members come at a time when the PDP is battling for relevance, following a disappointing performance in the 2023 general elections. Whether the party can truly reconcile its internal divisions and present a united front in future elections remains to be seen.
For now, Wike and the G5 continue to defend their legacy, insisting that their decision not only upheld democratic principles but saved Nigeria from an uncertain and potentially volatile post-election crisis.
