“NGF Elections Were Fixed, Ask Pro-Amaechi Governors To Release Entire Video” – Mimiko

The Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko has continued to fault the Nigerian Governors’ Forum elections that saw Rotimi Amaechi emerge as the rightful winner. Speaking at a Democracy Day lecture in Akure, the Governor said the pro-Amaechi governors’ had something to hide by only releasing a ten-minute video which showed the actual ballot casting and counting. He said if the governors’ had nothing to hide, they would have released an entire 3 hour video.

Mimiko argued, “Nigerians should ask the pro-Amaechi’s group why he presided over an election, which he is also contesting. I specifically raised that issue and insisted that he must resign but his supporters maintained that he should supervise the poll as a sitting chairman.

“They asked me whether I resigned my position while seeking a re-election for a second term in office and I replied them that it was not the same thing, because the NGF is like an association; not a democratic institution which had its existence entrenched in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“When it was obvious that we could not guarantee the source of the ballot boxes and ballot papers brought by Amaechi, I protested again that we should conduct the election openly by raising up our hands in support of our preferred candidate, again, they rejected.

“The ballot papers they produced were without serial numbers, and we discovered this was a fraud; hence there were protests.

“They never captured all these facts but merely recorded the fraction of the process, which was in line with their pre-determined agenda. I challenge them to release the clips which will cover the entire three-exercise.”

Also lending his opinion to the matter, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Dan Nwayanwu said, “Amaechi should not allow overzealous and anxious politicians to destroy his future. He is still young, about 48 years old now. He should go back and reconcile with his party.

“A party is always supreme. If he cannot abide by the philosophy of the PDP, he is free to leave. He can join the APC or come to LP; but in our party, the party is always supreme.”