In what appears to be a fallback strategy to make up for the loss of five governors, popularly known as the G-5, the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, is presently in talks with five governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This development the Atiku/Okowa presidential campaign organisation said the APC governors who are friends with Atiku have been consulting with the former vice president on how to support him.
According to the PDP campaign team, the five APC governors are willing to jump ship because they believe Atiku has a more believable manifesto and better experience to manage Nigeria.
One of the spokesmen of the PDP campaign team and former national publicity secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, who gave the hint, told reporters that the move is ongoing just as the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, believes he can attempt to leverage on the situation within the PDP where five governors have distanced themselves from the party’s presidential campaign activities unless the PDP national chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu resigns, resigns and is replaced by a southerner.
But in a swift reaction, the APC dismissed the claim by the opposition party, describing it as wishful thinking that indicates the opposition party in the country lacks plans and clear-cut strategy for the forthcoming general election.
So far, some of the G-5 governors seem to be tilting towards the APC, with Wike recently endorsing the APC governorship candidate in Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
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While the Rivers governor went further to donate money to APC women group in Lagos, his Oyo counterpart, Makinde, through his deputy, openly declared support for Tinubu’s presidential ambition when the APC presidential candidate met with Afenifere leaders in Pa Reuben Fasoranti’s residence in Akure, Ondo State.
Ologbondiyan however told this paper that talks with the Wike group is still ongoing, even as he revealed that APC governors are in talks with Atiku ahead of the 2023 polls.
He said, ‘As we speak there are no less than five governors of the APC, who are friends with our candidate, and who have been talking to our candidate with regards to the 2023 presidential election.
‘They (APC governors) are convinced about Atiku’s relevant experience, not just any kind of experience as being bandied about by other candidates. They are also convinced about Atiku’s manifesto. They have looked at his manifesto and they are convinced about its believability and the capacity of Atiku to realise them.’
When asked to reveal the identities of the governors, Ologbondiyan noted that at the appropriate time, they will be revealed.
‘At the right time Nigerians will know them. We don’t want to mention their names now. But I assure you at the appropriate time, Nigerians will see them.’
On the regions the governors are from, Ologbondiyan who refused to give specific details, added: ‘They are spread across the regions. Like I said at the appropriate time, Nigerians will know them.’
But in a swift reaction, the APC described PDP’s claims as wishful thinking, saying it is a clear indication that the opposition party in the country lacks plans and clear-cut strategy for the forthcoming general election.