PDP's G5 group of governors set to endorse Tinubu at forthcoming London meeting

MEMBERS of the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) G5 group of governors have flown to London for another meeting amid indications that they are set to declare their support for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate.

In late June, the PDP elected  former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as its flagbearer for next year's presidential election at its Abuja convention. Governor Nyesom 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, the G5 Governors are said to be disposed towards supporting Asiwaju Tinubu as Governor Wike is not sure of the ability of the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi to garner enough votes to secure victory. Members of the G5 group are set to fly out to London again this week to take a final decision on the matter.

Apparently, the G5 group of governors plan to brand Alhaji Abubakar, as a serial defector who cannot be trusted with power. They are said to have also agreed among themselves to support a presidential candidate from the south of the country