PDP’s Crisis Update; FCT Minister, Wike in closed door meeting with G-5

PDP’s Crisis Update; FCT Minister, Wike in closed door meeting with G-5

Members of the G-5 faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), referred to as the Integrity Group, convened in Abuja on Thursday night for a closed-door meeting.

The group, formed in the lead-up to the 2023 general elections, consists of four former governors and one incumbent governor.

The members include former governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, along with the current Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde.

The G-5 initially emerged as a dissident faction within the PDP, united in their opposition to the party’s leadership and presidential candidate in 2023.

The Integrity Group was born out of frustrations following the 2022 PDP presidential primaries, in which Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), lost the party’s presidential ticket to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The group has long argued that the PDP should have fielded a southern candidate in the 2023 presidential race.

Wike’s defeat and dissatisfaction with the party’s northern-dominated leadership sparked the formation of the G-5, which vowed to undermine Atiku’s campaign.

Following Wike’s loss, the group targeted the removal of then-PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu, accusing him of bias towards Atiku.

Their efforts succeeded, with Ayu being ousted and replaced by Umar Damagum as the acting National Chairman of the party.

However, tensions within the PDP have escalated in recent days, as current PDP governors moved to oust Damagum, who is seen as loyal to Wike.

This decision has deepened the ongoing leadership crisis, with several PDP governors backing Damagum and opposing the push for his removal.

Though details of the Thursday meeting were not disclosed, by Samuel Ortom’s media aide, Terver Akase, who confirmed the meeting, but it is believed that the gathering was centered on the unfolding situation within the party, particularly the governors’ recent attempt to unseat Damagum.