There’s no controversy, Amaechi won NGF election – Nyako

The Governor of Adamawa State, Alhaji Murtala Nyako, has declared that there is no controversy over who the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum is.
Nyako said his Rivers State counterpart, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, was validly elected by other governors with the majority of the votes at the NGF election two weeks ago.
Nyako said the Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, who has been laying claim to the chairmanship of the NGF lost the election to Amaechi.
He said while Amaechi scored 19 votes, Jang pulled 16 votes at the election.
Nyako said: “I don’t know what the controversy is all about.
“We voted for Governor Amaechi.
“Or let me say 19 of us voted for him and he is the authentic chairman of the NGF.
“Nothing or nobody can change that.
“What some governors are saying after the election is irrelevant because everybody voted during the election.
“You were either for Governor Amaechi or Governor Jonah Jang.
“Governor Amaechi got 19 votes while Governor Jang got 16 votes.
“So, what exactly are they saying?
“The election was conducted in a free and transparent manner and was even videotaped.
“I don’t know what made (Governor Isa) Yuguda (of Bauchi State) to be angry but for all I know, Yuguda should have been happy for being part of an election that was conducted in a free and transparent manner.
“I recognise Amaechi as the substantive chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum on the ground that he won the election fair and square.
“We are going to attend any meeting summoned by him.
“I expect all governors to avail themselves at any meeting convened by Amaechi as he is the duly-elected chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
“But be that as it may, it is not compulsory for anyone to attend.
“But I believe those with high democratic spirit will attend the meeting because Amaechi is the elected chairman of Governor’s Forum.
“I respect Governor Jang but he remains a floor member of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and is even expected to attend any meeting convened by Amaechi.
“As a democrat, my expectation of the governor of Plateau State is that whenever Amaechi convenes a meeting, he should avail himself in respect of democratic tenets, which were driven from the spirit of fair election.
“And if he does not attend any meeting called by Amaechi, his refusal will not prevent Amaechi from carrying out his functions.
The action will only be a bad precedence.”