How G-5 helped Obi defeat Atiku in Edo, C’River during 2023 election — Wike

Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, has revealed how the G-5 governors collaborated against the presidential ambition of Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 South-South region. The G-5, which includes Seyi Makinde, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu, Nyesom Wike, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, strategized to allow Peter Obi to win some states, as Atiku and the PDP had a strong presence in the area.

Wike revealed that the G-5 deliberately stopped Obi from winning Rivers State, as a victory there might send a negative signal to the electorate. The strategy was based on the belief that a PDP defeat in the South-South would harm Atiku's chances, whereas an Obi win would not significantly advance the Labour Party's presidential bid.

Wike further questioned Obi's ability to replicate his 2023 performance in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Delta states, asserting that the political landscape had changed, particularly due to the controversy surrounding the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. He advised Obi to focus on the 2031 election rather than the 2027 contest.