Ortom Defends G5’s Rebellion, Atiku Fires Back, Labels Them “Opportunists”

Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has offered fresh insights into why he and fellow members of the G5 Governors opposed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Ortom said their resistance was rooted in the PDP’s refusal to uphold equity, fairness, and justice, particularly its decision to present a Northern candidate after eight years of Northern leadership under President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to Ortom, the G5 had strongly advocated for the presidency to return to the South in the interest of national balance. He revealed that as chairman of the PDP’s zoning committee, he supported a Southern candidate, even though the committee’s official recommendation was for an open contest. Ortom noted that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) made the final decision to field Atiku, which he could not override. He also disclosed that he and others lobbied for Nyesom Wike to be both the party’s flagbearer and later, its vice-presidential candidate, but those efforts failed. Defending their political realignments, Ortom said politics is driven by interests and not fixed alliances.

However, Atiku Abubakar pushed back, describing Ortom and the G5 as frustrated politicians seeking relevance. In a statement by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku dismissed their rebellion as selfish and rooted in personal grievances rather than any commitment to justice. He argued that Ortom, who led the committee that endorsed an open primary, had no moral grounds to criticize the outcome. Atiku also questioned the G5’s credibility, noting their inconsistent political alignments—supporting both Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Bola Tinubu of the APC—suggesting their actions were driven by opportunism.

Ortom, meanwhile, reaffirmed his commitment to power rotation, saying he would support a Southern presidential candidate in 2027 to maintain balance. He also responded to accusations of ethnic favoritism in Benue State politics, insisting he had always promoted fairness and encouraged minority groups to organize politically. Reiterating the fluid nature of politics, Ortom emphasized that political decisions are primarily about protecting personal and communal interests, not rigid loyalty to individuals or parties.