In what amounts to a further blow to Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected his claim to the chairmanship of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), recognising Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State as the authentic chairman of the Forum.

Both Amaechi and Jang have been laying claim to the position since Friday’s disputed ballot in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. While Amaechi, who was seeking re-election, claimed to have won with 19 votes against 16, 19 governors promptly disassociated themselves from him, saying they voted for Jang. A meeting of the NGF called yesterday morning in Abuja by Jang was attended by 18 governors.

Making their position on the controversy known, Rivers State PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Nwanosike Samuel, yesterday told newsmen in the state capital, Port Harcourt, that the party supports the position of the PDP Governors Forum led by Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, which recognises Jang as NGF Chairman.

“Amaechi did not win,” said Nwanosike. “Amaechi is an agent of destruction working against the agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda and besides the election was not concluded yet he went outside to address the press. That is a criminal act. Amaechi cannot come out and say he is the Chairman; the right Chairman is Jonah Jang, the authentic Chairman is Jonah Jang.”

Describing Amaechi’s claim as “laughable,” Nwanosike said: “I don’t understand where Amaechi and his cohorts got the result they announced from; in fact, when I listened to 9 O’clock NTA news yesterday, I saw it play out clearly, the position of NGF led by Jonah Jang; it is obvious that the 19 governors signed declaring Jonah Jang as their leader so I don’t understand where that result came from. That goes to show what we have been suffering in Rivers State and also goes to show the impunity.”

•Photo shows Governor Jang.