FEATURES
Wike Reveals How G-5 Helped Obi Beat Atiku in Edo, Cross River
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed how the G-5 governors allegedly strategised to deny the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, votes in parts of the South-South during the 2023 presidential election.
Wike made the disclosure on Monday during an interview on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout, where he said the group deliberately allowed Labour Party candidate Peter Obi to win in Edo and Cross River states because the PDP was considered strong in the region.
According to him, the strategy was designed to prevent Atiku from benefiting from the PDP’s strength in the South-South.
Wike said, “How did he win? When the G-5, we sat, we had our strategy. We said in Edo, PDP is stronger in the South-South. Our problem will be Atiku. Therefore, instead of Atiku to take it, let it go to the Labour Party. That was our strategy. Cross River, the same thing. That’s what we did.”
He, however, said Rivers State was treated differently because the group believed an Obi victory there would have broader political implications.
“It was only Rivers that said, ‘No, we have a problem here in Rivers. Obi will not win here because if he wins, he sends a signal somewhere, people may not understand it.’ And we stopped…we stopped it,” Wike said.
The G-5 comprised five PDP governors — Wike, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State — who opposed Atiku’s presidential campaign ahead of the 2023 election.
Wike explained that the group believed an Obi victory in the affected states would not significantly strengthen the Labour Party candidate’s chances, while a PDP loss would hurt Atiku.
“But we agreed that, look, Atiku is a problem, PDP is strong in the South-South. So if PDP does not win in South-South, it’s a disadvantage to Atiku. Obi winning will not help Obi anywhere. We did that. We did that,” he said.
The FCT minister also questioned Obi’s prospects in the region ahead of the 2027 presidential election, asking how the former Anambra State governor would secure states such as Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Delta.
“In Cross River now, how will Obi win? In Akwa Ibom, how will he win? In Delta, how will he win?” Wike asked.
He further argued that some of the political factors he said benefited Obi in 2023 had changed, particularly the controversy over the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
According to Wike, the issue no longer carries the same political weight, saying President Bola Tinubu had “been able to kill that.”
Wike also claimed that Obi no longer enjoys the level of support he had in the South-East during the 2023 election.
“What people, what we know now, Obi does not have it, and he won’t have it,” he said.
The FCT minister subsequently advised Obi to look beyond the 2027 presidential contest and prepare for 2031.
“For this election, leave it for Tinubu. Prepare for 2031. And that’s the truth of the matter,” Wike said.