Politics is a game of alignment. It is an industry where affiliation and loyalty are as weak as the bond of a water-soaked tissue paper. Once self-interest does not align, changing camps is inevitable.
Presently (as at January 4, 2023), five governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were not in sync with the party.
The G5 governors led by the incumbent governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, have been seen executing actions that are anti-party.
This however is not the first time Nigeria’s political space would witness such development. Below are some (note that the position of the politicians were as at the time of reference);
G7 governors – 2013
Seven governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2013 defected to the opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC) despite the intervention of different troubleshooters including a meeting with the sitting president at the time, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
A report noted that the G-7 governors had made certain demands on the president as a precondition for reconciliation.
Among other demands, the G-7 had asked for the removal of national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and demanded that President Jonathan should not rush into declaring that he will run in 2015 but think deeply in view of the implications.
The defection of the PDP governors under the aegis of nPDP, according to the ex-Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, was a major factor determining the APC’s victory in the 2015 general elections.
The governors at the time were:
- Sule Lamido of Adamawa state
- Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto state
- Murtala Nyako of Adamawa state
- Ahmed Abdulfatah of Kwara state
- Babangida Aliyu of Niger state
- Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state
- Rabiu Kwankwoso of Kano state
G-8 governorship aspirants
The Group 8 (G8) are eight governorship aspirants in Zamfara state who rejected the outgoing governor, Abdulaziz Yari’s preferred aspirant and state commissioner for finance, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu Idris.
One of the group member was the deputy governor.
When Governor Yari travelled out of the state, he appointed the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Garba Rikiji to act as the executive governor, even when the deputy governor was available.
- Senator Kabiru Marafa
- Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala Muhammad (the deputy governor)
- Alhaji Sani Jaji (Lawmaker representing Birnin Magaji/ Kaura Namoda federal constituency)
- Alhaji Sagir Hamidu Gusau.
- Alhaji Abu Magaji (Former federal permanent secretary)
- Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi (Former Governor)
- Alhaji Dauda Lawal Dare
- Brigadier-General Mansur Dan-Ali (retd) (Minister of Defence)
G-5 governors – 2022/2023
The G5 governors also called Integrity Group are aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The group was clamouring for the resignation of the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, since the party’s presidential ticket was won by a northerner, Atiku Abubakar.
- Nyesom Wike of Rivers state
- Seyi Makinde of Oyo state
- Samuel Ortom of Benue state
- Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state
- Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state.
