The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it cannot trust the G5 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).
According to him, no serious presidential candidate can still count on the support of the “noise-making G-5 governors” to win the February election, owing to their level of betrayal.
A chieftain and former spokesperson of the party, Mr. Yekini Nabena also described the governors as a confused, and handicapped set of publicity-seeking politicians that lack the capacity to sway election victory for any presidential candidate in the February 25, 2023 general election.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Friday, Nabena said if the G-5 governors support the APC to win the February presidential election, members of the party will not see them as allies to be trusted, adding that the same will be if they support the Labour Party.
“The G-5 governors are confused and handicapped, whether as PDP men or as supporters of any opposition party.
“We have been hearing all manners of things. Today they are with Tinubu; tomorrow they are with Peter Obi and next tomorrow they may work for Atiku.
“Which one do we believe? If they change their minds and work for Atiku and the PDP wins, they will still be treated like pariahs,” Nabena said.
Nabena specifically said that unless the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) delivers election materials directly to State Government Houses and allows them to manipulate the process, members of the G-5 governors are not in a position to sway votes in favour of anyone owing to their poor performances in their respective states.
“The new electoral law has dramatically reduced the influence of serving governors to do any magic during elections unless the electoral umpire decides to hand over the process to them.
“The less performing governors are the worst for it because the electorates won’t listen to them on election day because they have no value.
“Again, the new innovations as introduced by INEC, if religiously followed, is another challenge for those who think they can sway the votes. The BVAS is not anybody’s mate. People will decide and not governors any longer.
“I will advise those who are still waiting on the G-5 governors to shift their attention to the real voters because these governors won’t be at the polling unit on election day,” he stressed.
Nabena also said that with the exception of Governor Wike, the other four governors have not lived up to the expectations of the people not to talk of delivering reasonable votes for any presidential candidate, adding that the 2023 General Elections are far beyond the reach of poor performing serving governors like Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
He, therefore, cautioned political leaders, especially those in the APC that are still romancing with the aggrieved G-5 governors, to rethink.
Nabena said that Tinubu’s candidacy is accepted nationwide, adding that by God’s grace, victory is certain for the APC.
According to him, he does not think the ruling party needs the support of the “paperweight” G-5 governors as it would be unfair to leaders of the APC in the five states of the G-5 governors who are working hard and mobilising for the Party’s candidate to be relegated for the PDP G-5 governors.
