Politics
2023: G-5 PDP Governors Agree To Support Tinubu For Presidency
The five aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party governors have demanded the support of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, for the PDP governorship and senatorial candidates in their respective states, according to a PUNCH report.
It was gathered on Thursday that this was part of the conditions presented to Tinubu during his meeting with the PDP governors in London, United Kingdom, on Tuesday.
In attendance at the meeting were Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu states.
The governors alongside Donald Duke, Jonah Jang, Olusegun Mimiko, former governors of Cross River, Ondo and Plateau states, respectively, as well as a Board of Trustees member, Chief Bode George, are defiant in their call for the removal of Iyorchia Ayu as the national chairman of the party.
A reliable source disclosed that the five governors were concerned about their political careers and sought assurances from Tinubu.
Though Wike is not contesting for any position in the 2023 elections, he was said to be concerned about his protégé, Siminalayi Fubara, who is the Rivers State PDP governorship candidate and the PDP senatorial candidates in the state.
On the other hand, Makinde is running for a second term while Ortom will be contesting as the Benue North-West Senatorial District candidate in the polls.
Also, Ikpeazu is the PDP candidate for Abia South Senatorial District and Ugwuanyi is running for the Enugu North Senatorial District.
However, there are different accounts of the final decisions of both the governors and Tinubu on the demand.
A source close to Tinubu told newsmen that a final agreement could not be reached as a result of the ‘complex demands’ by the governors.
According to him, the PDP governors made an overture to Tinubu to guarantee both the senatorial and governorship seats in their states, a demand the former Lagos State governor could not grant immediately as he needed to consult with his advisers and loyalists.
The APC chieftain confided in our correspondent that Tinubu may not be willing to concede to the demand with less than two months to the 2023 elections.
He said, “The G-5 governors do not hold the four aces. As it stands, they are actually seeking shelter. The major hitch we have is that all the members of the G-5 demanded for the governorship and senatorial seats in exchange for the big prize.
“Now, the question is, are we going to throw our people in Rivers, Plateau and Benue under the bus? I am worried about Benue, where we have low-hanging fruits. Of course, it is obvious we are set to win Benue with Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, who we are sure will sweep the governorship poll.
“There is also the APC governorship candidate (Teslim) Folarin who is prominent in Oyo. These are complex situations we are still grappling with and I can tell you that is where we are. The PDP governors are astute people who are very good in politics.’’
The source also noted that there were increasing pressures on the APC presidential candidate to call the bluff of the Integrity Group by not conceding any positions to them.
Except for Rivers, the party chieftain said it had been projected that Benue and Oyo would fall because of the volume of mobilisation campaigns that had been carried out in the two states.
“Whether Makinde likes it or not, Oyo will fall. Abia has never been our ground. We also lost in Enugu and Benue in 2019 where we failed to get 25 per cent. Yet, we still won the presidency.
“I can tell you without Ortom, we have a very good chance of winning Benue in 2023 with Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia. But we know Rivers State is where we are very vulnerable and may need Wike to push up. These are the five states that we lost yet won the presidential election in 2019.
“The truth, however, remains that Asiwaju knows that these five states are not the tipping points to win. It is just to make his victory double sure that we have to pitch tent with them. But as I told you, they are not in a position to stamp their feet, draw the line and impose conditions on Asiwaju. Their support is inevitable because these governors really have nowhere else to go,” he said confidently.
On whether there is a chance Tinubu might meet the group again in January before they announce their preferred candidate, the politician disclosed that the negotiation had not ended.
He said, “It is an ongoing conversation. The point is that Asiwaju must carry the people (candidates) within those states along with our internal structures. Asiwaju must consider these factors before opting for a pyrrhic victory. He will talk to other leaders of our party.”
But a source in the PDP governors’ camp confirmed the demand they placed before Tinubu. He, however, said that a decision had been taken regarding the governors’ support for the APC standard bearer.
“Agreements have been reached and decisions have been taken. The announcement will be made in January. The people will be informed on the decisions that have been made,” he said.
On his part, the Media Director of the Tinubu-Shettima presidential campaign council, Bayo Onanuga, declined comments on the issue.
Onanuga stated that aside from knowing that the governors were backing his principal, he had no idea about their alleged conditions.
“I don’t want to speculate on this issue. I don’t know what was discussed. But I know that the G-5 governors are backing Bola Tinubu. I can’t go further than that.
“After all, the governors said they will announce their preferred candidate in January. Why not wait for them?” he stated.
Also, a presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, in a tweet on Thursday, stated, “The offer put forward by the five governors was fantastically positive. That will definitely help us seal our victory. Let us do it together.”
The spokesman for the Tinubu-Shettima presidential campaign council, Festus Keyamo, also shied away from discussing the G-5 demands.
Instead, he blamed the leadership of the PDP for the woes in the party.
Keyamo disclosed that he had always known long before now that collapsing the zoning process to accommodate the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would lead to the implosion of the party.
He stated, “The PDP has turned to a caricature that people now laugh at. We always knew the PDP implosion will come even before the primaries. We were waiting for it to happen.
“When it was very obvious to zone the presidency to the South, the PDP was too scared to take the bold step. Whereas, this same thing could have happened to us if the Northern APC governors had not risen to the challenge boldly and zoned the presidency to the South.
“Even when the ruling party was dilly-dallying on the issue, the governors took the bull by the horn and zoned it to save the APC from this kind of implosion the PDP is having. This is what they should have done. They actually met and agreed the presidency should come to the South in Asaba but (Delta State governor, Ifeanyi) Okowa stabbed them in the back.’’
Meanwhile, there are indications that the aggrieved PDP governors would arrive in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Friday (today) after their meeting with Tinubu in the UK.
The PUNCH gathered that they equally met with a former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who has been in detention in London for alleged involvement in an attempted organ harvesting since June.
A close aide of one of the governors dismissed the threat by the PDP leadership to sanction the governors, saying they did nothing wrong to warrant the invocation of relevant provisions of the party constitution on the discipline of members.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity stated, “They will brief the press tomorrow (today) as soon as they arrive in Port Harcourt. They may speak on their preferred candidate of course but their stand is that the party cannot sanction them because they have not done anything wrong.
‘’As it is, they believe they are championing a cause backed by the PDP constitution in matters of fairness and equity. So, their argument is that they are on track in demanding that after eight years of Presidency in the North; the South should be supported to have a shot at it.’’
In his reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba told newsmen that the PDP would not address the issue until the governors speak on their preferred candidate, saying, “Ours is a party of order and rules. Until we get to the bridge, we won’t cross it.”
On his part, the immediate past National Secretary of the party and member of NEC, Ibrahim Tsauri said the leadership of the party would act at the appropriate time.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dan Ulasi, has questioned the moral justification for another eight-year presidential tenure for northern Nigeria following the completion of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s two terms in office.
Ulasi argued that although the Constitution does not prohibit another northern president from serving after Buhari, such an arrangement would be morally wrong in view of the informal power rotation between the northern and southern parts of the country.
SEE ALSO: Nigerians Must Rise, Reject Inducement and Intimidation at Polls — PDP Chairman
He made the remarks on Arise News’ The Morning Show on Friday, October 16, 2026, during a discussion on opposition politics and the political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the PDP chieftain, Nigeria’s political leadership has traditionally been shaped by an informal understanding that presidential power should alternate between the North and the South to promote fairness and a sense of inclusion.
He argued that the North having completed eight years under Buhari should be a consideration in determining the region that produces the next president.
“So if Buhari just finished eight years, I don’t see how nothing will again come out to run eight years. It is morally wrong. It is not constitutionally wrong, but it’s morally wrong. It is wrong,” Ulasi said.
His comments came as the discussion turned to the challenges confronting opposition parties and their preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
During the interview, Ulasi also addressed the role of religion in Nigerian politics, dismissing the suggestion that religious identity should determine political support.
He said he had never considered religion a decisive factor in his political discussions, stressing that the character and quality of individuals seeking public office should matter more.
“For me, they are Nigerians. Religion has never been part of my discussion in politics. Absolutely not,” he said.
The PDP chieftain maintained that Nigerians should be assessed as citizens regardless of their religious backgrounds.
When the discussion shifted to ethnicity, Ulasi acknowledged that ethnic identity was an undeniable part of Nigerian society but cautioned against using it as an instrument of political division.
He explained that a person’s name or ethnic background did not diminish their status as a Nigerian, arguing that national identity should remain central to political participation.
Ulasi also criticised opposition parties for failing to make sufficient use of Nigerians’ economic grievances against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He cited inflation, rising food prices and other economic difficulties as issues opposition parties could use to present alternative policies to voters ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, he questioned whether opposition figures were doing enough to engage Nigerians and explain how they would address the country’s challenges.
Ulasi said opposition parties should organise town hall meetings across the geopolitical zones to communicate their programmes and engage citizens directly.
He added that he had not seen the level of nationwide engagement he expected from opposition leaders.
The Nigeria Police Force has warned Nigerian youths against allowing themselves to be used as instruments of political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying their future is more valuable than temporary political inducements.
The warning was contained in a goodwill message delivered by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Annie Iniedu, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, at a National Orientation Agency (NOA) initiative to mobilise Nigerians at the grassroots ahead of the elections on Thursday.
SEE ALSO: IGP Disu Proposes New Police Desk for Nigeria’s Creative Economy, Intellectual Property
The initiative was held under the theme, “Your Vote, Your Voice, Your Future.”
In the message, the Inspector-General urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to embrace issue-based campaigns, tolerance and respect for the rule of law.
“Elections must never become a licence for thuggery, intimidation, vote-buying, ballot-snatching, destruction of electoral materials, or violence,” he said.
Addressing young Nigerians, the police chief warned them against becoming instruments of political violence.
“To our youths in particular: do not allow yourselves to be used as instruments of political violence. Your future is more valuable than any temporary political inducement,” he said.
He also urged eligible voters to reject voter apathy and vote-buying, encouraging them to protect their votes and participate peacefully in the electoral process.
“To all our eligible voters, I urge you to reject voter apathy and vote-buying. Your vote is your voice. Protect it, exercise it peacefully, and allow democracy to work for our nation,” he said.
The Inspector-General assured Nigerians that the police would work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), other security agencies and relevant stakeholders to protect the integrity of the 2027 elections.
He said the collaboration would involve intelligence sharing, inter-agency cooperation and professional policing to provide a safe and secure environment for voters.
“The Nigerian Police Force assures all Nigerians that we shall remain professional, impartial, and firm against criminal elements seeking to undermine the electoral process,” he said.
The police chief further called for collective efforts to ensure peaceful and credible elections in 2027.
“Let us collectively ensure that in 2027, the ballot defeats the bullet, ideas defeat intimidation, and democracy defeats violence,” he said.
He also urged Nigerians to mobilise for peace, responsible leadership and a credible electoral process ahead of the general elections.
The efforts of the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) would count for nothing, except for the person who delivers his or her ward at the polls.
Nigeria’s President, and party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Bola Ahmed Tinubu made it clear during the inauguration of the council at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Wednesday.
“No one gets credit for an incomplete assignment. So, until you deliver the next election, until you deliver your wards, until you deliver the votes, before we can say thank you,” he said.
READ ALSO:Marketers Eye Portion of FG’s Petrol Discount
The president, who expressed gratitude to party members for their support in the previous election, said the inauguration was more than a formal gathering, describing it as a renewed commitment to Nigerians.
“The APC is ready. We have not gathered merely to inaugurate a council; we have gathered to renew a covenant, a covenant with the Nigerian people and the historic responsibility they have entrusted to us as Nigeria’s governing party. We promise we will not let them down,” he said.
Tinubu also expressed confidence in the party’s ability to secure victory.
“I celebrate you. I celebrate you, no doubt about that. Nigeria will continue to celebrate you. You will see the joy of this victory. You will share in the joy,” he said.
The president also said he would not participate in every aspect of the campaign, stressing that his responsibilities as head of state would remain a priority.
He said party members had cautioned him against allowing the demands of campaigning to distract him from governance, adding that he agreed with their position.
“You have warned me and asked me not to allow the rigour of the campaign to distract me from governance. I hear you. I am in full agreement with your decision. Nigeria needs more attention now than ever before.
“The responsibility of this office does not pause. That responsibility did not recognise our agenda here today. The Constitution allows INEC to make room for parliament but not for the campaign. The job must go on,” he stated.
He, however, pledged to make time to address Nigerians directly while the campaign council coordinates activities across the country.
“However, I will still make time to speak directly with Nigerians even as you lead the campaign in the states and local government areas, so you will excuse me from going everywhere with you,” he said.
The campaign council is chaired by Tinubu, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda serving as first and second vice-chairmen, respectively.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq are the deputy vice-chairmen.
Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari was named director-general of the council.
Other appointments include Femi Gbajabiamila as head of administration, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as secretary, and former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje as director of stakeholder mobilisation.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was also listed among the party’s campaign officials, while Dele Alake was named spokesman.
The council’s structure includes directorates responsible for mobilisation, election planning and monitoring, finance, fundraising and regional coordination.
The party has also named political figures outside its ranks to coordinate support in some states and regions, including Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike for Rivers State and the FCT, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo for Anambra, and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke for Osun.
President Tinubu is seeking a second term in the 2027 presidential election, which the Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled for January 16, 2027.
Corruption Trials: EFCC, NJI Push Specialised Judges, Digital Evidence Reforms
‘It Is Morally Wrong’ — PDP Chieftain Questions North’s Bid for Another Eight Years
2027 Election: ‘Your Future Is More Valuable’ — IGP Warn Youths Against Political Violence
Tinubu Charges PCC Members to Deliver Wards
Marketers Eye Portion of FG’s Petrol Discount
Tanzania Nears Completion of $42bn Equinor, Shell-Led LNG Project
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Tems Sets New Record On Billboard Hot 100 Chart
