The Crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new turn as five aggrieved governors of otherwise known as G-5, led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and some other party chieftains, on Sunday, announced the formation of the Integrity Group within the opposition party.
At the meeting, the group said no going back on the decision not to be part of the campaign of the presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The governors have continued to insist on the removal of Ayu as a condition to support the presidential bid of Atiku Abubakar, the party’s flag bearer in the 2023 elections and hey insisted on their demands, including resignation by the national chairman, Senator Iyiocha Ayu, and choice of his new helmsman from the South.
A former governor, who is a member of the group, said time was running out, urging the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and Ayu to make up their minds before it is too late.
The Governors and their supporters converged on the Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos to review the crisis rocking the party.
Former Plateau Governor Jonah Jang, who read the communique of the group after its deliberations, said the camp was not against any peace move.
He said:”After a careful review of developments, we have decided to stand on the decision we took at our Port-Harcourt meeting. We hereby again reiterate that the window of reconciliation in our great party remains open.”
Before the meeting, Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde told reporters that although G5 is the face of the struggle, there are many leaders backing the Integrity Group.
Makinde said: “We are here this morning to hold a meeting of the Integrity Group within our party, the PDP. You’ve been of the G5 that is the five PDP governor’s. The G5 is all about the Integrity Group. You can see us, five serving governors, as the face of this struggle but the leaders and elders if the party that you see here are the people behind those faces.
“We are this morning in the South west to review the situation within our party, to review where we are and to also look at what is going to happen in the coming elections. At the end of our deliberations, you will be fully briefed on where we stand on those burning issues. On behalf of our leaders and elders in the South west, I want to welcome members of the Integrity Group and wish us.”
At the meeting were Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers State), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Sam Ortom (Benue), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); former Governors Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) and Donald Duke (Cross Rivers).
Also there were PDP Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, Senator Sunday Onor, Senator Nafiz Suleiman, Senator Olaka Nwogu, Mrs. Nene Ukeje, Senator Mao Ohabunwa, Ali Odefa, Dotun Babayemi, Dan Orbi and Mohammed Adoke, former Justice Minister.
Others at the meeting are former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, former Cross River State Governor, Mr Donald Duke, former Plateau State Governor, Mr Jonah Jang and former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Bode George.
