Damagum vs PDP Govs: Wike, Ortom, other G-5 members meet in Abuja [PHOTOS]
Members of the G-5 of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, also known as the Integrity Group, met in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Thursday night.
members of the group include four former governors and one incumbent governor.
The former governors are Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
The incumbent Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde is the fifth member of the group founded during the build up to the 2023 general elections.
One of the members, Nyesom Wike who is currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT had contested for the PDP presidential ticket in 2022 but lost to the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar.
Wike’s failure to secure the party’s ticket led to the formation of the group, as they vowed to frustrate Atiku’s candidacy.
The group believed that the party should have fielded a southerner for the 2023 presidential election.
Shortly after the primary election, the group plotted the removal of Iyorchia Ayu, the then national chairman of the party for allegedly working for Atiku.
After Iyorchia’s removal, Umar Damagum was announced as the acting National Chairman of the main opposition party.
A few days ago, the current governors elected under the platform of the PDP announced their resolve to remove Damagum, a loyalist of Wike.
Their decision, however, deepened the leadership crisis rocking the party as about four members of the PDP Governors’ Forum declared their support for Damagum.
Although Ortom’s media aide, Terver Akase, who confirmed the Thursday meeting did not give details, it may not be unconnected to the resolution by the PDP governors to remove the acting chairman.
