…PDP to sanction erring members if
To underscore his hatred for the Igbo and determination to ensure Peter Obi of the Labour Party does not emerge as president of Nigeria, Rivers State Governor, Nyeson Wike, has dragged the G5 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to enter a deal to support the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Wike was defeated by former vice president Atiku Abubakar during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election late May this year.
Unable to accept defeat like a sportsman, Wike instigated some PDP governors to engage in loggerhead with the party leadership, demanding that the PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu should resign his position. The party’s NWC and BOT have both declared vote of confidence on Ayu’s leadership.
The River State Governor therefore formed a spliter group called the G5, whose members include governors, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Samuel Orton of Benue.
For some months now, the G5 governors have been hobnobbing with Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, which made many Igbos believe Wike was interested in a Christian and Southern president of Nigeria.
However, many political pundits have alerted that Wike was only interested in his selfish interest rather than his claim for justice and equity.
As it stands today, there are strong indications that the meeting of the G5 in London which took place Wednesday was for the team to meet with Tinubu.
Sources have revealed that at the meeting Bola Tinubu struck a deal with Wike’s group. The meeting was said to have taken place in Bola Tinubu’s London residence.
According to sources, among those who attended the meeting on Tinubu’s side include Governor of Jigawa State, Badaru Abubakar and former governor of Ekiti State, John Kayode Fayemi.
Before the commencement of the meeting, the source said all other persons present at Tinubu’s residence were excused.
One of our sources said the G5 members are determined to remain in the PDP with the intent to work for the success of the APC candidate. The source said Wike wants to remain in PDP to ensure that his preferred governorship candidate in River State wins the election.
However, the PDP has said it will sanction any party member, who goes against its constitution and rules of engagement.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, gave the warning while reacting on the romance between the G5 and candidates of some other parties.
“So when those things happen, the constitution of the party will deal with them. We are a party that is very organised, united and concerned about the elections and Nigerian people, but that does not mean that if anybody, no matter how highly placed, goes contrary to the provision of the constitution of the party, the constitution will not kick in.”