2023: PDP Elders Troubled Over G5 Governors’ ‘Deal’ With Tinubu

The alleged deal between the five aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has thrown the party into fear.

There had been speculations that the governors identified as G-5 struck a deal with Tinubu ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

Some elders in the PDP, as well as certain members Board of Trustees (BoT), feel the decision of the governors may affect PDP’s chances in 2023.

Two BoT members who spoke with Saturday Sun on the condition of anonymity said the chances of PDP in 2023 may be jeopardised if the party goes into the elections with a divided house.

The BoT members stated this despite the claims by the campaign council of the PDP that its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar would win without the support of the governors.

The BoT members said that even though Atiku’s team are not bothered about the crises, the party hierarchy, strategists and elders are very worried behind the scenes about the crisis.

The BoT members said, “Many of us would have wanted Ayu to resign for the sake of peace in the party and let the position go to the south. Even though we are not in support of Wike and his team, at the same time, we see reason with some of the issues the G5 has raised like the need for fairness and balance. We are very disturbed. But then, our hands are tied.

“Behind the scenes, many of us agree that it is not very expedient to have a northerner take over from another northerner but our party members have chosen a candidate in a free and fair primary and we have to support whoever was chosen. Many members have sympathy for Wike and his group but at the same time, we are not in support of the route that he has taken with regard to striking deals with our opponents.

“We are very worried because we know the implications of going into the election with a divided house despite Atiku’s campaign team expressing confidence that the crises won’t affect his chances of winning.”