Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has made a bold claim about the political strategy deployed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G5 during the 2023 presidential election. Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike denied allegations that the strategy amounted to manipulation of the outcome in Rivers State and other parts of the South-South, stating instead that it was aimed at reducing the votes garnered by Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate. According to Daily Post Nigeria, Wike said they encouraged voting for Labour Party candidate Peter Obi to help achieve this aim. However, he rejected claims of manipulation and dismissed rumours spread mainly on social media as false. This statement comes amid ongoing debate about the role played by the G5 in the 2023 elections, with some alleging that their strategy led to a shift in votes from Atiku Abubakar to eventual winner Bola Tinubu.
While Wike’s claims have not been independently verified by other sources, his assertion adds another layer to the ongoing discussions about the impact of political strategies on the election outcome. It remains unclear how widespread this strategy was across the South-South and whether it played a significant role in reducing Atiku Abubakar’s votes.
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