The battle for the soul of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) got messier yesterday with the anti-Amaechi forces pushing for the expulsion of the Rivers State Governor from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Amaechi was re-elected for a second term on Friday at an election in Abuja, polling 19 votes to the 16 for Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State.
His election was immediately disputed by a group of governors comprising Jang, Godswill Akpabio and 16 others who proclaimed Jang as the authentic chairman of the NGF.
The group had its ‘maiden’ meeting in Abuja and resolved to create its own secretariat.
A delegation took their case to Vice President Namadi Sambo in the absence of President Goodluck Jonathan who is in Ethiopia, and the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Chief Antony Anenih.
Amaechi is currently not in the good books of the President, his main offence being his alleged political ambition in 2015 which is perceived to be in conflict with that of the president.
He is being tipped as running mate to Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State.
Both Lamido and Amaechi have denied the allegation.
However, a counter plot by the pro-Amaechi governors in the PDP is also in the works. They are rooting for proper election of the Chairman of the recently formed PDP Governors Forum.
It was set up by the party’s leadership as part of the strategy to curb alleged excesses of Amaechi who, in their opinion, was using the NGF against the interest of the President.
Gov Akpabio, a pro-Jonathan governor, was selected to lead the group and he is now the arrow head of the Jang group.
Moments after their meeting at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge, Governors Akpabio, Jang and Garba Umar (Acting governor of Taraba) drove to Anenih’s residence. Time was 2.30 pm. The meeting lasted one hour.
From there they proceeded to the Presidential Villa to see the Vice President.
Details of that meeting were not immediately available.
All the 19 governors who voted for the re-election of Amaechi as the NGF chairman are not relaxing either.
They plan to come out and openly identify with his leadership, sources said yesterday.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the anti-Amaechi governors met three times between Friday night and 2pm yesterday on how to curtail Amaechi.
It was gathered that one of the issues on the agenda was the need to expel Amaechi from the party. They said they strongly suspected that Amaechi has been working in collaboration with the opposition to “ridicule the presidency and the PDP.”
They also decided not to accept the result of the Friday election by going ahead with a parallel NGF headed by Jang and strengthening the PDP Governors Forum.
A source said: “The anti-Amaechi forces are still shocked by how the Rivers State Governor won the re-election. They also blamed some of the governors for walking away quietly from the election venue without creating a scene by rejecting the poll result on the spot.
“Initially, some of the aggrieved governors thought of going to court to stop Amaechi from being recognised as the NGF chairman but they feared that they might not be able to secure an ex-parte injunction. They said a political option is a quick-win one.”The grand plot now is to prevail on the PDP leadership to expel Amaechi from the party because the ruling party ought to produce NGF chairman.
“They said since the PDP structure in Rivers State has been hijacked from Amaechi, the new leadership of the state chapter should be mandated to initiate his suspension and expulsion.
“At the closed-door session, they also agreed to recognise Jang’s leadership instead of Amaechi’s.”
But some of the 19 governors, who backed Amaechi, have also launched a counter-plot to hijack the PDP Governors Forum from Governor Godswill Akpabio.
About 13 out of the 23 members of the PDP Governors Forum have hatched another plan to call for “a proper election into the chairmanship of the Forum”
Another source added: “The next battle is going to be at the PDP Governors Forum because Akpabio’s leadership was an imposition. We want election into the PDP Governors Forum.
“Already, 13 out of 23 members of the PDP Governors Forum have met and agreed to call for “a proper election.” The game is now certainly a tit-for- tat one.”
A source in Amaechi’s camp said: “they will soon see that Amaechi is the legally elected chairman of the NGF.
“We saw it coming by video recording the election. They tried their best to stop the recording of the voting process but we were adamant.
“If they go ahead to witch-hunt Amaechi, all the governors who accounted for the 19 votes will now come out to address the press.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Mr Jonathan need to Declear state of Emergency in this Governors forum.anyway, this is the true pix of 2015.
ReplyDeleteAmeachi Should be suspended from PDP, pls don't get me wrong,, in every Brotherhood,,Cult,,Or party as a member you would not be happy with every decision made, but as a member you must work for the interest of the Brotherhood.
ReplyDeleteIf he thinks he is above the party then he should leave.
These child-like attitude! Jang, who cannot even take care of his Plateau State is fighting to add more wahala (trouble) to his already full basket of troubles? Akpabio, drowned in his so-acclaimed "achievements", seems to be happy being used to brew troubles all over the land, soon he will be out of office and the drums of critics will turn his way and he will be hunted by the same people who are now making his hair stand. All you politicians should just let Nigeria be and give Nigerians peace of mind.
ReplyDeleteEmex ur naive n shld keep ur month shut if u don't know wot to say. Mr President shld leave d Governor's alone to run der affairs b4 dis leads to assassinatn of each other. Dis is not how to battle for power. God gives power to whom he choses. God bless Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteI admire Amaechi's courage. He proves to be a strong candidate for Nigerias presidency, I.e., a man dt wld never dance to d tune of powers dt be!
ReplyDeleteWhy should he-Amechi be expelled? Bcz of his 2015 ambition? Presidency is the of any living Nigerian, Male or Female... So ride-on Amechi, the road is clear for you, Jonathan has brought more hardship to Nigerians than any President that has ever ruled this country before, we shall all see by 2015 in JESUS name, Amen.
ReplyDeleteamaechi is not a bad gov afterall, but his university is in shambles, remove that vc and dat mad , drooling rabid dean of pg school now, bf dey mess u up politically. u dnt knw d damage dey r causing to ur state.
ReplyDeleteBAD LEADERSHIP IN DISPLAY VIA PDP GOVERNORS
ReplyDelete