Popularly known as the G-5, governors including wike nyesom, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Seyi Makinde Y samuel ortom from Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Oyo and Benue states respectively, have continued to dissociate themselves from the Atiku campaign.
Let us remember the governors, who are aggrieved by the continued permanence of Iyorchia Ayu in the role of PDP national chair, he had previously withdrawn from the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in September 2022.
Although the governors have not publicly endorsed anyone, they are believed to have decided to work for two rival candidates, all in an attempt to prevent Atiku from assuming the presidency.
Meanwhile, as all the efforts made by the Atiku camp to persuade the G-5 seemed to have failed, the former vice president’s supporters have now devised strategies to conquer their internal enemies.
As reported by the punchloyalists of the PDP presidential candidate in Benue state have been working hard to reach out to party loyalists in their strongholds to win support for him.
For example, a former state governor, gabriel suswanhas been calling a series of stakeholder meetings in the northeast Benue senatorial district, trying to convince eligible voters to support Atiku despite opposition from Governor Ortom.
An associate of the governor said anonymously the punch that Suswam and dramatist, Professor Iyorwuese Hagherhe had been making a massive rally for the former vice president ever since Ortom insisted that Ayu must go before he can support Atiku.
“Suswam addressed stakeholders in Zone A recently and Iyorwuese has been speaking to his relatives. They are doing it in such a way as not to offend Ortom. They are friends of the governor but are also careful not to overdo it. As a result, there is a lack of coordination at the state level,the source said.
He further said that although Ortom had not openly endorsed any particular candidate, the Governor had instructed his foot soldiers to embrace the Labor Party position. Pedro Obi.
“Governor Ortom has already inaugurated an Obi team with his most trusted aides and allies. Former gubernatorial candidate Prof. Dennis Tyavyar, is president of the group. He was Commissioner of Education under Ortom before resigning to contest the gubernatorial election.the newspaper cited the source.
It was also known that a former national president of the PDP, Uche Secondusleads the Atiku campaign in Rivers State.
Secondus is being assisted by a former state governor, Celestina OmehíaFormer Vice President of the House of Representatives, austin oparaand a former federal legislator, lee maebato counter Wike’s anti-Atiku crusades.
While Governors Ikpeazu and Ugwuanyi are covertly using their foot soldiers to mobilize in Obi to avoid being caught for anti-partisan activities.
