With less than one week to the gubernatorial elections, five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) states are feeling the tension over the prospects of their candidates. The outcome of the National elections has left party members divided on voting for their respective gubernatorial hopefuls. This is due to the failure of their governors to support the PDP presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The states affected include Oyo, Rivers, Benue, Abia and Enugu. The uneasy calm surrounding the possibility of APC in these places supporting its governorship hopefuls in the elections has also contributed to the anxiety. Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi’s popularity is already casting doubts on the chances of PDP hopefuls.
The G-5 PDP Governors after the Presidential Poll
The PDP candidates and their principals, who refused to support Atiku, are on a tightrope as the elections are held next Saturday. These candidates include Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers, Peter Mba, Enugu, Okey Ahaiwe, Abia, Seyi Makinde, Oyo, and Dominic Ucha, Benue. Their principals, Governors Nyesom Wike, Seyi Makinde, Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Okezie Ikpeazu, had demanded the resignation of the National Chairman of the party, Sen Iyorchia Ayu, as a condition to support Atiku. The Wike-led group known as G-5 had claimed its demand was informed by the need for equity in PDP.
The decision of these governors not to back the PDP presidential hopeful, apart from dividing their state chapters, contributed to its loss at the polls. Rivers and Oyo where the governors are believed to have an agreement with APC. It was an open secret that Wike supported APC candidate Bola Tinubu instead of his party’s standard-bearer. At two events before the exercise, Wike tactically spoke about who his supporters were voting for.
The APC in affected states may not reciprocate the gesture of the governors, having resolved to support its candidates instead of PDP flag bearers. Of the 23 Council results, Tinubu won in 14 councils, Obi took second with five boards, while Atiku won in four panels. A section of the APC in the state had attributed its victory to Wike’s support. On the part of the state chapter of PDP, Atiku’s supporters would not be backing Wike’s candidates.
Meanwhile, Wike’s candidate faces a significant challenge posed by supporters of Obi, who accused the governor of rigging. This puts the candidate in a difficult position as the elections draw near.
