Peter Obi Lied About Governors’ Forum Election, Refused To Swear – Amaechi Alleges

Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has accused former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, of lying about the controversial 2013 Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) election.

Naija News reports that Amaechi made the allegation during an interview with filmmaker Chude Jideonwo, where he reflected on his political career and some major events that shaped Nigeria’s political landscape before the 2015 elections.

The former Rivers governor claimed he confronted Obi during a Catholic church service after the former Anambra governor allegedly rejected the outcome of the NGF election.

According to Amaechi, the encounter happened while both men were preparing to receive Holy Communion.

“I knelt down for Holy Communion and Peter knelt by my side,” Amaechi recalled.

“I said, ‘Peter, you’re here?’ Then I told him, ‘The requirement for Holy Communion is that you must be in the state of grace, and being in the state of grace includes that you won’t tell lies.’”

Amaechi alleged that he challenged Obi before the altar to deny that he won the election.

“I said, ‘Peter, you have lied. We are before the altar of God. If you swear here that I did not win that election, I will resign,’” he said.

According to Amaechi, Obi declined to make the declaration and allegedly replied, “No, it’s politics.”

The former minister maintained that he defeated then Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, by 19 votes to 16 in the NGF election.

“When we voted, it was 19 for Amaechi and 16 for Jang,” he stated.

Amaechi said the result was clear and was witnessed by governors who participated in the election.

The 2013 NGF election remains one of the most controversial episodes in Nigeria’s recent political history.

Amaechi was declared winner, but the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejected the outcome and backed Jang as chairman of a rival faction.

The dispute deepened cracks within the ruling party and contributed to the political tensions that later led to the defection of several governors and key figures from the PDP ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Despite the allegation, Amaechi said he had a good relationship with Obi when they worked together in the Governors’ Forum.

“Peter was my deputy when I was chairman of the Governors’ Forum,” he said.

“We had a wonderful relationship. Good friendship amongst us.”

However, he insisted that Obi’s position on the NGF election was dishonest.