Former Benue State governor Samuel Ortom alleges that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G5 group will support President Bola Tinubu’s reelection in 2027.
Ortom announced this at a luncheon hosted by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Sunday in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.
Wike, the former Rivers governor, wore a black shirt and a butter-colored jacket and was accompanied by Ortom and another G5 member, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
The G5, a group of five former PDP governors, rejected Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate before the 2023 election last February. Tinubu, a southern candidate, was sponsored by the G5.
Ortom, Wike, Ugwuanyi, Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) are among the G5. Except for Makinde, who is now serving his second term as governor, all members of the group completed their second eight-year terms as governor in May.
Ortom told a crowd crammed with Wike’s supporters on Sunday that the G5 had no regrets for supporting Tinubu’s victory in the last election, and that the group will back the ex-Lagos governor for a second term as Nigeria’s President.
Ortom said,
“If we work to ensure Bola Ahmed succeeds, there will be tomorrow for anybody to even contest the election at all.
“Our leader, Nyesom Wike, has already made a declaration that in 2027, we are supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We have nowhere to go because that is what Nigerians believe. Even the past administration that took Nigeria from top to bottom, we allowed them to work for eight years. So, why can’t a seasoned administrator in the person President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rule us for eight years?” he asked, assuring Nigerians that Tinubu will fix security, economy and other critical areas of challenge to the citizens.