Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has stated that the G5 group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. He spoke yesterday at a luncheon hosted by Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Wike, an ex-governor, was flanked by Ortom and another G5 member, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State. The G5, a group of five then governors within the PDP, rejected Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate before the 2023 poll last February. The G5 backed a southern candidate in the person of Tinubu.

 

They included Ortom, Wike, Ugwuanyi, Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo). All members of the group finished their second term of eight years as governor last May, except Makinde, who is now in his second term.

 

Addressing the gathering, Ortom said the G5 has no regret for supporting Tinubu’s victory in the last general elections, declaring that the group will again back the erstwhile Lagos State governor for a second term in office as Nigeria’s President. He said: “If we work to ensure Bola Ahmed succeeds, there will be tomorrow for anybody to even contest election at all.

 

“Our leader, Nyesom Wike, has already made a declaration that in 2027, we are supporting President Bola 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 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.