EXTRA: G5 is hereby expanded — I’m now a member, Umahi tells Wike

Dave Umahi, governor of Ebonyi and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says he is now a member of the G5 — a group of five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors.

The G5 came into being amid the crisis in the PDP over calls for Iyorchia Ayu to step down as national chairman of the PDP.

The G5 — which includes Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Samuel Ortom of Benue, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu — is also referred to as the ‘Integrity Group’.

Aside from the governors, the group comprises PDP stakeholders who have insisted that Ayu has to step down on the grounds that the chairman and presidential candidate cannot be from the same region.

Addressing Wike on Tuesday during the inauguration of a road project in Rivers, Umahi made a reference to Wike’s criticism of him and other governors who defected from PDP to APC.

He, however, said he supports the position of the G5 and declared himself a member.

“Our country must see wisdom in what you’re doing. Your fight is not personal; you’re fighting to keep this country together. And God is with you. I want to assure you that I have your back, I have your front; we are with you and we are united in this,” the Ebonyi governor said.

“But today, you know those governors you wanted to remove or were in the process of removing before you softpedalled, we have formed G4 — that’s governor Wike, myself, Cross River, and Zamfara. There is another G4.

“And G5 is hereby expanded to G6. I’m now a member of G6. And your excellency, let me tell you something, I’m not going to struggle chairman with you. But for deputy, nobody will take it from me.

“So, this ‘Integrity Group’, when you call the meeting, you have to call me. Many other governors want to be part of this, because they have seen that there is salvation for our country in what you are doing. And so, I want to commend you highly.”