Bala Mohammed of Bauchi considers joining PDP's group of G5 aggrieved governors

GOVERNOR Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has indicated that he may join up with the group of aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors known as the G5 in response to the disdain shown to him by the party's presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

In late June, the PDP elected Alhaji Abubakar as its flagbearer for next year's presidential election at its annual convention. Governor Nyeson Wike of Rivers State was a candidate in that election but he was beaten into second place and to make matters worse for him, he was not then picked as the party's running mate.

With Alhaji Abubakar opting to pick Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate, Governor Wike and his supporters, made up primarily of four other governors, have  been on the war path. Governors Wike, Seyi Makinde  (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) now make up what is now known as the G5 Group of Governors and have boycotted Atiku's campaign so far.

One of the key demands of the G5 has been that PDP chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu stands down, as he, like Alhaji Abubakar is from northern Nigeria and for the sake of unity, it was argued that a southerner should replace him. Despite several meetings between the Atiku and Wike camps to resolve the impasse, the matter has not been sorted out and Senator Ayu remains in office.

Now, it appears that Governor Mohammed may join them as he is unhappy about the way he has been sidelined despite being the vice chairman of the Atiku Campaign Council in the northeast. What is irking Governor Mohammed in particular is the fact that Alhaji Abubakar picked campaign coordinators from his state without consulting him.

In his letter to Senator Ayu, Governor Mohammed opened up on how he was hurt by Atiku and demanded an apology. In response to his letter, four of the five G5 governors have arrived in Bauchi to lure him to their camp.

Governors Nyesom Wike, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi all visited Bauchi today to meet with Governor Mohammed. It is not yet clear if Governor Mohammed will join their group, facilitating it to change into the G6.