Southern Governors Reject Removal of Electronic Transmission of Election Results From Electoral Act

…Desire Nigeria’s next president to come from the south

BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Southern Governors Forum rose from their crucial meeting in Lagos on Monday declaring that in order to consolidate the nation’s democracy and strengthen the Electoral process, they reject the removal of the Electronic transmission of the election result from the electoral act.

This is as the Forum announced their support for the presidency of Nigeria to be rotated between Southern and Northern Nigeria with a resolve that the next president of Nigeria should emerge from the Southern Region.

This is as the Southern Governors pointed said, they vehemently rejected It also rejects the confirmation of exclusive jurisdiction in pre-election matters on the Federal High Court.

Chairman of the Forum, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, who announced the resolve of the governors for a Southern president in 2023 shortly after a closed-door meeting in Alausa, Lagos State, said that the governors also set September 21, 2021, as the deadline for the enactment of anti-open grazing law among its member states.

Akeredolu, who is also the governor of Ondo State, said that the members of the Forum reviewed the situation in the Country and focused on the current security situation, constitutional amendment, Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), during which they re-affirmed their commitment to the unity of Nigeria on the pillars of equity, fairness, justice, progress and peaceful co-existence between and amongst its people.

The Forum reiterates its commitment to the politics of equity, fairness and unanimously resolved that if for any reason security institutions need to undertake an operation in any State, the Chief Security Officer of the State must be duly informed.

The Forum also reviewed the security situation in the country and commends security operatives for their relentless efforts in restoring security and safety and commiserates with families and loved ones of those who have fallen in the line of duty.

The Southern Governors specifically re-emphasised the need for State Police just as it frowned at what it described as “selective criminal administration of Justice” and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambit of the Law and fundamental human rights.
The communique of the meeting of the Forum also stated that the Southern Governors resolved that Funds deducted from the Federation Account for the Nigeria Police Security Trust Fund should be distributed among the States and Federal Government to combat security challenges.

On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) Law, the Forum commended the National Assembly for the progress made in the passage of the PIB, but rejected the proposed 3% and support the 5% share of the oil revenue to the host community as recommended by the House of Representatives.

The forum also rejected the proposed 30% share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins just as it also rejected the ownership structure of the proposed Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC). The Forum said it disagreed that the company be vested in the Federal Ministry of Finance but should be held in trust by Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) since all tiers of Government have stakes in that vehicle.

The communique further states; “The Forum unanimously chose Lagos State as its permanent secretariat and appreciated the Governor of Lagos State for the wonderful hosting of this meeting while commending him for his good work in the State”.