The troubling image circulating on social media, featuring members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G5 group including Samuel Ortom, a member of the Party’s Board of Trustees, and Ayodele Fayose, a former Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum after a political meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is not just disappointing; it is utterly alarming.
This reunion of the discredited G5 epitomizes the betrayal that undermined the PDP during the 2023 presidential election, sending a dangerous signal to loyal party members and the Nigerian public. These individuals flagrantly disregarded the collective will of the PDP, actively campaigned against the party’s presidential candidate, and played a pivotal role in the APC’s rise to power. Their brazen willingness to embrace the very figure they purportedly helped install, without a shred of shame or accountability, is a direct affront to every committed member of the PDP.
The participation of Samuel Ortom as a sitting BoT member elevates this from a mere personal visit to a matter of grave ethical and political concern regarding party discipline and unity. Likewise, Ayodele Fayose’s involvement, given his history as a former chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, represents a severe betrayal of both legacy and responsibility. Okezie Ikpeazu, who recently rallied party loyalists for the 2027 gubernatorial race in Abia State, now clandestinely meets with the leader of the opposition, further exposing the G5’s parting from PDP ideals and highlighting the urgent need for decisive borders.
Notably absent from this disgraceful gathering are Seyi Makinde, whose political ambitions may have kept him from publicly aligning, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, whose absence may be coincidental. However, their omission speaks volumes about the fractured and opportunistic state of what remains of the G5.
This meeting transcends mere optics; it perpetuates a dangerous cycle of disloyalty, disobedience, and self-serving interests. If the PDP hopes to rebuild and assert itself as a credible alternative in Nigeria’s political landscape, it can no longer tolerate acts of sabotage masquerading as political consultations. Silence at this critical juncture would be identical to complicity.
The time for the PDP leadership to confront these acts of betrayal with decisive action is now. Party discipline must be enforced strictly. The PDP cannot afford to promote the very hands that continue to stab it in the back. It is time to draw the line and uphold the integrity of the party.
Umar Sani
Spokesperson PDP Presidential Campaign Council 2019
