G-5 governors meet in Lagos, now integrity group, insist on Ayu's withdrawal

• Makinde: We are open to reconciliation• PDP crisis bodes well for APC, says Oshiomhole• Free yourself from unbearable hardships of APC in 2023, Ayu tells Nigerians• Supporters of ex -President Jonathan support Tinubu

The train of five aggrieved governors of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), led by Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, arrived in Lagos State yesterday, with G5 governors renaming the Integrity Group within of the party, while strengthening its position not to support the presidential candidate of their party.

Recall that aggrieved Governors including Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State have demanded the resignation of PDP National Chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu shortly after the party's presidential ticket was won by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who is from the North.

They are pushing for Ayu to step down and be replaced by a southerner in the party, saying the North cannot produce the party's presidential candidate and national chairman.

Speaking to reporters after wrapping up a closed session at the Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi, moderated by former PDP National Vice President, Chief Olabode George, Makinde said the group of Integrity remained the face behind the struggle within the PDP. However, he reiterated that the window of reconciliation within the party remains open.

Attendees at the meeting included former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang; former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose; former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko; former Cross River Governor Donald Duke; Chef Dan Orbih, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, among others.

Jang said: "After careful consideration of the development of our party, we have decided to stand by the decisions we made at our meeting in Port Harcourt. And we hereby reiterate that the window of the reconciliation remains open."

Reacting to the development, former All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman Adams Oshiomhole said the crisis within the PDP was a good omen that put the ruling party ahead of the opposition in the race to retain the presidency in the 2023 general election.

Oshiomhole, who spoke to reporters after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the ongoing crisis would guarantee victory for the APC.

According to Oshiomhole, Atiku has hurt the opposition party's chances by offending some of those who should be his campaign's main supporters, citing the emergence of G5 governors.

“You have the G5 saying that the governors of Asaba in Delta State voluntarily agreed, through both the PDP and APC governors during the change of power, that they stood by that agreement. Leaders must have character and their position is commendable.

"So if you ask me how we're doing, we're doing great. While the other side is struggling with five governors who have gone down from the number of governors they have. We have 23. Now, if you add 23 to five, i'm not saying the five are with us, but we have 23 with five, i guess that's 28. If you subtract 28 from 36, it means only eight governors, in fact, seven , because the other in APGA is not there.

“So while he has seven governors who work for him, we have 23 who work for us and we have five who are neutral. You know when you vote, you vote for, against or you abstain Abstinence is as good as voting against,” he said.

HOWEVER, the embattled Ayu called on Nigerians to use their votes to free themselves from economic hardship caused by the ruling APC.

While pointing out that life was unbearable under APC, especially with the high cost of living, Ayu said the ruling party should be held responsible for the country's economic downturn.

The National Chairman of the PDP said this yesterday in Akure, capital of Ondo State, during the installation of the party's former gubernatorial candidate in the state, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) , as the Balogun of the Cathedral Church of Saint David, Ijomu.< /p>

Ayu, who was represented by the party's national secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu, said the only way out of the quagmire would be for Nigerians to vote against the APC and install a government that will have the people at heart.

According to him, for Nigerians to live meaningful lives, they should vote for the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku and other party candidates in the elections.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, former President Goodluck Jonathan's leading supporters and relatives backed APC presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Supporters and parent members of the Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria (CNPDN) said they resorted to adopting Tinubu because Jonathan refused to join the presidential race, despite their constant advocacy, adding that Tinubu had the structures and capacity...