The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has claimed that Nigeria narrowly avoided serious turmoil following the 2023 general elections due to the actions of the G5 governors, who opposed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s presidential candidate.
Wike, who led the influential group of five PDP governors—popularly known as the G5—insisted that their decision to reject the party’s choice of Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate played a crucial role in maintaining national stability.
The G5 included Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, alongside Wike, who was then the governor of Rivers State. Their opposition was rooted in the PDP’s failure to respect the party’s zoning principle, which they argued should have produced a southern presidential candidate rather than Atiku, a northerner.
Their defiance significantly undermined the PDP’s electoral strength, as the group refused to campaign for Atiku and instead threw their support behind Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who eventually won the presidency.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday while addressing members of the ‘Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP’ from across the country, Wike defended the group’s controversial stance.
“You may like us or hate us, but the truth is, if the G5 had not taken that stand, this country would have been thrown into crisis,” he said.
He added that the group had no regrets about its decision, even if it ultimately benefited a rival party.
“It didn’t matter who gained from it. What mattered was doing the right thing—and we still believe we did,” Wike stated.
He further warned PDP leaders against acting with impunity and stressed the need for the party to respect both its constitution and the principles of fairness and equity.
“If the party had heeded our warning, we wouldn’t be in the situation we are in today,” he concluded.
