RismadarVoice Reporters
September 26, 2026
Fresh questions have emerged over the G5 governors’ strategy during the 2023 presidential election after former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike said the group deliberately sought to deny Atiku Abubakar votes in the South-South while treating Rivers differently.
Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, said during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout that the five aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party governors considered Atiku their major political challenge because of the PDP’s traditional strength in the South-South.
According to Wike, the group’s strategy was to allow Labour Party candidate Peter Obi to benefit in parts of the region rather than permit Atiku to consolidate the PDP vote.
“When you talk of South-South, I can tell you what happened. How did he win? We, in the G5, had our strategy. We said, PDP is stronger in the South-South. And our problem would be Atiku,” Wike said.
“Therefore, instead of Atiku taking it, let it go to the Labour Party.”
Wike, however, said Rivers State was deliberately treated differently.
“It was only in Rivers, I said, ‘No, Obi would not win here because if he does, it would send a wrong signal somewhere and people would not understand it.’ And we stopped it,” he said.
The minister did not explain precisely what he meant by a “wrong signal” or what actions were involved when he said, “we stopped it.”
His remarks have consequently renewed debate over the distinction between political mobilisation and interference with voters’ choices.
The comments do not, by themselves, establish that votes were altered or that the Rivers presidential election was rigged.
INEC declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress winner of the 2023 presidential election in Rivers State with 231,591 votes.
Obi finished second with 175,071 votes, while Atiku received 88,468 votes. Tinubu’s declared margin over Obi was 56,520 votes.
Supporters of Obi have continued to dispute the Rivers result, citing polling-unit records and alleged irregularities during collation. Wike has rejected allegations that his recent remarks amount to an admission of rigging and has challenged those disputing the declared result to produce evidence supporting their claims.
The Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education has also called for an investigation into Wike’s comments to establish what the G5 strategy involved and whether it affected the integrity of the election.
CHRICED Executive Director Ibrahim Zikirullahi argued that the disclosure raised questions about voters’ sovereignty and the extent to which political actors can claim to “allow” or “prevent” candidates from winning states.
Wike’s account establishes his description of the G5’s political calculations against Atiku, but it does not independently establish unlawful interference with the election.
The unresolved questions centre on why Rivers was excluded from the strategy applied elsewhere and what Wike meant when he said the group “stopped” Obi from winning the state.
