Mimiko Elected Chairman, PDP Governors' Forum

SAN FRANCISCO, June 17, (THEWILL) – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum has elected Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State as its new chairman, a communiqué issued by the forum said Wednesday.

The communiqué was read by Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State at the end of the forum's first meeting this year, which ended late Tuesday.

“At the first meeting of the PDP Governors' Forum in 2015, the forum unanimously elected Dr. Segun Mimiko of Ondo state as the Chairman of PDP Governors' Forum,'' the Governor stated.

He said that the forum also congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his election as the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

“We salute and commend our former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan for his display of peaceful disposition in the 2015 general elections.”

“We also congratulate Sen. Bukola Saraki, Mr Yakubu Dogara and Lasu on their emergence as the Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly respectively.”

“We specially congratulate our own Sen. Ike Ekweremadu on his emergence as the Deputy Senate President,'' Ikpeazu said.

He added that the forum, however, condemned in strong terms the relocation of the State Election Tribunals in Rivers, Taraba and Akwa Ibom states to Abuja.

In an interview with journalists, Mimiko described his election as the forum's chairman as an honour and a special responsibility.

“I feel that it is special responsibility that will pull together all PDP governors; we will do everything possible to engage the presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a very constructive manner.”

“We, also as PDP governors have agreed to create formal and informal mechanism of peer review, all in the interest of our nation,” Mimiko said.

Also speaking in an interview with newsmen, Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba State questioned why the State Election Tribunals of some states including Taraba was transferred to Abuja.

“We don't know the reason why the tribunal should not stay in their states,'' he said.

He expressed confidence that he would win the challenge saying, I have had two elections and I won.

“I am very confident that I will win at the tribunal,'' Ishaku said.

The meeting was also attended by the governors of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada; Emmanuel Odom of Akwa- Ibom, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu.

Also in attendance was retired Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa.