The five aggrieved People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governors led by Nyesom Wike of Rivers state and some other party stalwarts, Sunday, announced the formation of the ‘Integrity Group’ within the party.
Blueprint reports that the Wike-led G-5 governors have been clamouring for the resignation of the party’s national chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, just after the party’s presidential ticket was won by former vice president Atiku Abubakar.
Other governors in the group are Samuel Ortom of Benue state; Seyi Makinde of Oyo state; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state; and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state.
Addressing newsmen before going into a closed-door session, Makinde said the Integrity Group remained the face behind the struggle within the PDP.
According to him: “We are here this morning to hold a meeting of the Integrity Group within our party. We have been of the G-5 – that is, the five PDP governors. The G-5 is all about the Integrity Group.
“You can see us; five serving governors as the face of this struggle, both the leaders and elders of the party that you see here are the people behind those faces.
“We are in the South-West to review the situation within our party, to review where we are and to also look at what is going to happen in the coming elections.”
Makinde noted that at the end of the deliberations, the group would fully brief the media on their stand on all the burning issues within the main opposition party.
“On behalf of our leaders and elders in the South-West, I want to welcome members of the Integrity Group and wish us well,” he said.
Other PDP leaders at the meeting were former governors; Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Donald Duke (Cross River), Jonah Jang (Plateau) and former deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Bode George.
Also present were a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bello Adoke; Deputy National Chairman South-west of the PDP, Taofeek Arapaja; Senator Nazif Suleiman, Nnena Ukeje, Senator Sandy Onor and Senator Mao Ohabunwa.