Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has asserted that the controversial stance taken by the G5 governors during the 2023 general elections, though divisive, ultimately contributed to stabilising Nigeria’s democratic process.
Wike made this statement on Monday, June 9, during a meeting with members of the “Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP” drawn from all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
In his address, the former Rivers State governor staunchly defended the actions of the G5 governors, a coalition of five then-serving state leaders within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who openly defied the party’s directives during the last presidential election.
The G5 group, which included Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, and Wike himself, chose not to support the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Their decision stemmed from a demand for power rotation to the southern region of the country, which they argued was in line with the PDP’s zoning principles and Nigeria’s broader federal character ethos.
This rebellion fractured the PDP’s presidential campaign machinery and is widely believed to have significantly weakened the party’s performance at the national level. The group instead threw its weight behind Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who ultimately emerged victorious in the election.
Justifying the actions of the G5, Wike declared that their intervention was not driven by personal ambition but by a higher national interest. “You may like us, you may hate us; the truth is if the G5 had not taken that decision, this country would have been in crisis,” he remarked. “It does not matter who benefited in the end, what mattered was that the right thing was done — and we have no regrets. We still stand firmly by that decision.”
Wike further elaborated that the position taken by the G5 governors was rooted in a principled adherence to the constitutional framework of the PDP as well as Nigeria’s democratic values. According to him, the party’s failure to respect internal agreements and rotational arrangements was a misstep that brought avoidable consequences.
“If the party had truly listened to us and respected our concerns, we would not be facing the challenges we see today,” Wike said, as he called on PDP members to take a critical look at the party’s recent history and learn from its misjudgments.
In his address, Wike also issued a stern warning against impunity and the growing culture of internal division within the PDP. He urged party leaders to embrace unity, humility, and reconciliation rather than allow personal interests to further fragment the organisation.
“Let us not allow ego and greed to destroy the PDP. Our responsibility now is to pacify aggrieved members, build bridges, and avoid utterances that deepen divides. Telling people to ‘go to hell’ cannot build a party,” he cautioned.
Despite the internal turmoil, Wike expressed optimism about the PDP’s capacity to recover from its setbacks. He emphasized the need for strategic reflection, restructuring, and sincere efforts at healing internal rifts.
Also present at the meeting were several prominent figures in the PDP, including former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Samuel Ortom, and Okezie Ikpeazu. Others in attendance included the PDP’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Philip Aduda.
The gathering appeared to be part of broader efforts to engage party stakeholders in dialogue and chart a path forward for the PDP ahead of future elections.