The Story Behind Gov. Amaechi Re-election

Amaechi won the transparent election with 19 votes while Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau, who contested the position with him, got 16 votes.

However, those in the camp of Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom protested the reemergence of Amaechi as the forum`s chairman. Saying that his camp would only recognise Jang as the NGF’s chairman while Mimiko of Ondo would serve as its vice chairman.

But the facts were obvious, owing to the fact that the governors of Kogi, Bauchi, Delta, Enugu, Plateau, Cross River, Anambra and Ebonyi, were at Akpabio’s briefing, as reported by The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Mr. Okauru, who is also the Director-General of the forum’s secretariat, said the election was free and fair and that votes were counted in the open. in his words, he said,

“I  served as Returning Officer and after counting the votes cast by all governors here, except that of Yobe, the forum`s incumbent Chairman, Gov. Amaechi of Rivers emerged winner.
“He got 19 votes against Gov Jonah Jang of Plateau who got 16 votes,’’ Mr. Okauru said.

Mr. Akpabio was quoted to have said, that "18 governors had endorsed Jang as their candidate," he wondered how Amaechi could have won the election. The truth remains that the Mr. Akpabio and his PDP camp had spread the usual net of the green stuff but Gov. Amaechi's Petroleum advantage took the day.