Shocking revelation emerged following the re-election of Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as the chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum that after having sensed that the outcome may be contested by some aggrieved governors, requested one of them to secretly video the poll. The video record was organised by Amechi’s supporters as reported by Premium Times.
One of the governors whom the source refused to disclosed secretly captured most of the proceedings.
The president has since declared that he had no interest in who emerges the next chairman of the forum, however his claim has been disproved by reliable insiders and the president’s body language.
According to the source, the video captured how the 35 governors, who participated, were accredited, assigned ballot papers, before they took turns to slot them in a transparent ballot box hired from the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The source said that, at a point during the election, Amaechi’s close rival, Governor Godswill Akpabio, became angry when he realised that the election was being recorded by one of the governors.
The source revealed that once Akpabio turns away, the governor simply resumes his secret recording.
When the allegation of fraud cropped up earlier this morning, those supporting Amaechi were not moved because of the documented evidence of a transparent process to nail that concern.
A governor who craved anonymity said “Let them keep dancing around, we will release the video of the election at the appropriate time. We have hardcore evidence that these clowns (governors) voted without any complaint during the election. We are ashamed to have these shady characters as colleagues.”
However, The Director General of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Asishana Okauru, said the forum secretariat disclosed that the election was secretly taped, noting that he was not aware
“I was busy counting the votes, so I didn’t know that any governor recorded. And by the votes I counted, Amaechi won,” he said in a telephone interview with Premium times . “I will find out and let you know.”
Governors in support of Jang, and President Jonathan have since rejected the result, claiming that the election was rigged. The protesting governors, led by Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state, said the process violated key rules, and declared the group’s decision not to accept Amaechi’s reelection.
Despite the ongoing war between president Jonathan and Amaechi, the governor still emerged victorious.
The Northern Governors Forum met early Friday and prevailed on the Katsina and Bauchi governors, Ibrahim Shema and Isa Yuguda, respectively, to yield their ambition, for a consensus candidate in the person of Mr. Jang.
Removing Messrs Shema and Yuguda was to soothe the president’s camp, led by Mr. Akpabio, and leave them with the impression that all was well, sources have said. It turned out a dummy, well sold.
When Mr. Jang, also a supporter of the president, was presented by the group to the PDP governors later Friday, he drew no objection, not even from Mr. Amaechi, and soon won the signatures of most of the governors present.
In the end, at least three governors, who rallied that support on paper, backed off when afforded the luxury of an unmarked ballot paper, and a secret voting system. Their votes, alongside the opposition, apparently went Mr. Amaechi’s way.
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