Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has opened up on the reasons behind the G5 governors’ decision to oppose the presidential ambition of Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 general election.
Speaking on Arise Television on Thursday, Ortom, a prominent member of the G5—also known as the Integrity Group—said the group acted out of a desire to uphold the principles of fairness, equity, and justice within the party and Nigeria’s political structure.
The G5, made up of then PDP governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo), had openly rebelled against the PDP’s leadership in the lead-up to the election.
According to Ortom, the decision to oppose Atiku was largely informed by the PDP’s failure to respect the party’s internal zoning arrangement, which was expected to shift the presidency to the South following President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure.
“We had thought the PDP would uphold equity, fairness, and justice. But unfortunately, they did not,” Ortom said. “I couldn’t understand how, after eight years of a northern presidency, the party would support another northern candidate.”
He explained that the emergence of Atiku, a northerner, as the PDP presidential candidate, amounted to a breach of the party’s zoning promise and ignored the mood of the nation, particularly in the South.
“For us in the G5, it was about equity. We believed the presidency should go to the South. That was why I worked against the PDP in 2023,” he added.
Despite chairing the PDP zoning committee, Ortom said he was bound by the majority decision of the committee, which recommended throwing the presidential ticket open.
“I was chairman of the zoning committee, but I couldn’t override what the majority wanted. I simply reported the committee’s position to the NEC, and they chose to throw the ticket open,” he said.
Ortom revealed that he backed Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) in the presidential election, while Wike supported Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the need for southern representation.
“Even if I lost my senatorial election after serving eight years as governor, it didn’t matter. I wanted it to be known that there are still people who believe in justice, equity, and fairness,” Ortom said.
He criticized the PDP leadership for failing to provide an inclusive platform for members who supported Wike, leading to internal divisions and eventual loss at the polls.
“Politics is selfish. When your interests are not protected, you look elsewhere. That’s why we went different ways. Wike supported Tinubu, I supported Obi, and others chose their own path. That’s how we ended up with the current government,” Ortom stated.
Looking ahead to the 2027 election, Ortom reaffirmed his commitment to supporting a southern presidential candidate, warning that if the PDP fields a northern candidate again, he may not back the party.
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