Former Benue state Governor Samuel Ortom has expressed the readiness of the G5 group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The G-5 include former governors namely Ortom(Benue ), Wike(Rivers), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi(Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia state) and incumbent governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde.
Member of the group dumped their party’s candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to support Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 polls.
It is on record that Ortom and one other member of the group lost their senatorial bids during the election.
Except Makinde, the rest member of the group have completed their terms, while Wike, the group leader, is the current FCT minister, an appointment that has continued to generate some row within the opposition PDP.
Speaking Sunday at a luncheon hosted by the FCT minister, Ortom said the G5 had no regret supporting Tinubu’s victory in the last poll.
Presented with same candidate in 2027, the former governor said the group would again back the ex-Lagos governor for a second term in office.
“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,” Ortom said.
Wike on support for Tinubu
In a related development, the former Rivers state governor said he has no regret supporting Tinubu who hails from the southern part of the country, as president.
The minister spoke during his visit to the South-South vice chairman of the APC, Victor Giadom, at his country home, Ogoni in Gokana local government area of Rivers state Saturday.
Speaking during the visit which he described as private and not political, Wike said: “l didn’t come here for politics. I came here to visit my friend, Victor Giadom. Let nobody misinterpret why l came here. That is why l came with PDP and APC leaders. It is a private to my friend”.
“I have never been in doubt of your capacity to relate with your people. Politics is about impact. If you want to be a successful politician, you must impact on your people so that when you call them, they will answer you.
“Forget about these hungry noisemakers on the road. When the time comes, we will know who is in charge and who is not in charge. There is time for everything,” he said.
On his realignment with Giadom, he said “party will come and go and friendship will remain. We have made our mistakes, we are all humans but friendship remains.”
The minister added that when he was appointed a minister, Giadom led a team to congratulate him, stressing that “it does not matter where you belong to what is important is the interest of Rivers State.”
Earlier, the APC leader had described the visit as the homecoming of a brother, a friend and a leader, assuring him of support.
“Be reassured that we will support the team you will lead in Rivers to provide support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is the main reason we are gathered here today. This place nobody can challenge any visitor on this oil. We are in total control of this place,” he said.
Dignitaries that attended the event included serving Senators, House of Representatives members, APC and PDP leaders, and two former PDP chairmen in Rivers state, Bro Felix Obuah, and Amb Desmond Akawor, PDP South South chairman Chief Dan Orbih, former National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, local government chairpersons, traditional rulers, women and youth groups.