Wike Explains G5 Strategy to Reduce Atiku’s 2023 Votes

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has explained that the political strategy adopted by the G5 governors during the 2023 presidential election was aimed at reducing the votes of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, rather than manipulating the election in favour of President Bola Tinubu.

Wike gave the explanation on Wednesday while speaking with journalists in Abuja, following controversy over comments he made about the role of the G5 governors in the 2023 election.

The minister had earlier spoken about the group’s strategy during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout. His remarks were interpreted by some opposition politicians and commentators as an admission that the election results had been manipulated to favour Tinubu.

Wike rejected that interpretation, saying the G5 governors had pursued a political strategy based on their opposition to Atiku within the PDP. He explained that they believed Atiku posed a stronger political challenge in parts of the South-South and therefore encouraged voters to support Labour Party candidate Peter Obi in order to reduce Atiku’s votes.

According to him, the approach was a political decision taken during the election and should not be confused with altering election results.

Wike also dismissed allegations that he personally manipulated results in Rivers State or other parts of the South-South to help Tinubu. He questioned how an individual could change results from thousands of polling units across the state.

The minister said claims of electoral manipulation should be supported by evidence from the polling units and official results rather than conclusions drawn from social media discussions.

He also argued that social media trends could not be used to determine the outcome of a nationwide election because they represent only a fraction of the voting process. He noted that the 2023 election involved polling units across the country and said assumptions based on limited observations could produce misleading conclusions.

Wike further maintained that challenges to the 2023 presidential election were taken before the courts and that allegations concerning the Rivers State results were not established through the legal process.

He said the G5’s calculations were based on the belief that Atiku was the stronger factor among the opposition candidates in the region. The group therefore sought to encourage support for Obi as part of its broader political strategy.

The minister maintained that the strategy contributed to the voting pattern recorded during the election and insisted that discussions about the 2023 presidential contest should be based on official results and facts rather than social media narratives.