Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, appears to have aligned himself with the G-5 faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a group led by former Rivers State Governor and current Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The G-5, self-styled as the “Integrity Group,” refused to support the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 elections.

The group, made up of five governors, argued that the presidency should rotate to the southern region, in line with the principle of inclusivity and rotational leadership. They opposed the idea of another northern president after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari, also from the North.

Fintiri’s alignment with Wike and the G-5 was evident during his public endorsement of Ambassador Umar Damagun as the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, a close ally of Wike.

This move comes as Atiku Abubakar, Fintiri’s state counterpart, opposes Damagun’s leadership. Fintiri and Atiku both hail from Adamawa State.

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Fintiri joined Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, a prominent G-5 member, at a reception hosted by the Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress in honour of Wike in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

During the event, Fintiri described Wike as a “good man” and a “democratised Nigerian” and noted the former governor’s accomplishments both in Rivers State and nationally.

Fintiri, who also expressed his admiration for Wike’s ability to build bridges, stated, “We will continue to be around Wike because Wike, like one of us, believes in himself, believes, and fights for what he thinks is right. And I’m one of those also who stand by what I believe is right. And what I believe is what will work for my people.

“I’m not a member of the G-5, but I will continue to remain a friend of the G-5. All of us have our different views and divergent interests, but we will continue to work together because I believe, also as a leader, I should be able to do what I feel is right. I’m here with a lot of friends, senators from my state, to come and join you and join Wike in this celebration. It’s not easy for a man to stand tall and build bridges across this country without being attacked or hurt.