The Plot Thickens: Wike, Fayose, Ortom, Ikpeazu Meet Tinubu

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike and three former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors – Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State – at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday evening. 

The meeting’s details remain undisclosed, but sources suggest it centered on exploring ways to foster cooperation and integrate these influential former Governor’s into the current political framework, potentially reshaping alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.

This meeting is seen as an early move toward political realignment, with Wike, Fayose, Ortom, and Ikpeazu attending as part of the defunct G5 Governors faction that broke ranks with the PDP leadership during the last election cycle. Notably, the G5 governors had publicly opposed the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and instead backed Tinubu, who then appointed Wike as Minister of the FCT in August 2023.

Attendees:

– Nyesom Wike: Minister of the Federal Capital Territory

– Ayodele Fayose: Former Governor of Ekiti State

– Samuel Ortom: Former Governor of Benue State

– Okezie Ikpeazu: Former Governor of Abia State

– President Bola Tinubu: President of Nigeria

Fayose had previously visited Tinubu at his Lagos residence during the Sallah break on June 9, expressing support for Tinubu’s leadership and commending his efforts in stabilizing the economy. The meeting between Tinubu, Wike, Fayose, Ortom, and Ikpeazu comes amid ongoing efforts by a reconciliation committee led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki to address the internal crisis in the PDP.