Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revealed how the G-5 governors strategically worked against the presidential ambition of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar in the South-South region during the 2023 general election. ​Wike made the disclosures on Monday, September 21, 2026, during an interview broadcast on TVC’s political program, Journalists’ Hangout. ​
According to Wike, the G-5, comprising former PDP governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and himself (Rivers) held closed-door strategy sessions to map out how to neutralise PDP’s dominance in the South-South. ​The group identified that a solid win in the region would boost Atiku’s chances.
To prevent this, they agreed to channel votes toward Labour Party candidate Peter Obi in key states like Edo and Cross River, knowing an Obi win would take away PDP’s advantage without granting Obi enough momentum to secure the presidency overall. ​”When the G-5 sat, we had our strategy. We said in Edo, PDP is stronger in the South-South.
Our problem will be Atiku. Therefore, instead of Atiku to take it, let it go to the Labour Party. That was our strategy. Cross River, the same thing. That’s what we did,” Wike stated. ​”Atiku is a problem, PDP is strong in the South-South. So if PDP does not win in South-South, it’s a disadvantage to Atiku. Obi winning will not help Obi anywhere. We did that,” he added. ​
While Edo and Cross River were designated for the Labour Party maneuver, Wike noted that the G-5 intentionally drew the line in Rivers State. Allowing an Obi victory in Rivers, he argued, would have sent a misleading political signal to the rest of the country. ​”It was only Rivers that said, ‘No, we have a problem here in Rivers.
Obi will not win here because if he wins, he sends a signal somewhere, people may not understand it.’ And we stopped… we stopped it,” Wike explained. ​Reflecting on the current political landscape, Wike dismissed the likelihood of Peter Obi or any opposition candidate repeating similar gains in the South-South or South-East during the 2027 presidential election.
He noted that key 2023 factors, such as the religious rhetoric surrounding the Muslim-Muslim ticket, have been neutralised by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
​Questioning Obi’s prospects in states like Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Delta, Wike advised the Labour Party candidate to set his sights further down the road. ​”What people know now, Obi does not have it, and he won’t have it,” Wike asserted, adding, “For this election, leave it for Tinubu. Prepare for 2031”.
