Abdulrazaq succeeds Tambuwal as NGF chairperson

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, governor of Kwara, has been elected as the new chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto and outgoing acting chairperson of the forum, announced the development in a statement on Tuesday.

Tambuwal said Abdulrazaq was elected through consensus and will be deputised by Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo.

Abdulrazaq is of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Makinde is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting held today, received briefings on various interventions, and issues of national importance and resolved as follows,” the statement reads.

“On the leadership of the Forum, the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, emerged as the new Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum through a consensus, and the Governor of Oyo State Seyi Makinde is now the Vice-Chairman.

“Members expressed satisfaction with the success of the just concluded Induction for new and returning Governors that took place between the 14th and 19th of May, 2023. Members committed to sustained collaboration among the States through enhanced peer review, learning at the sub-national level and deepening the relationship with the Federal Government and other institutions.”

Tambuwal added that Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, briefed the forum and granted the governors’ request to “immediately stop further deductions from the accounts of States to meet Local Government Councils London Paris Club obligations and the monies so far deducted be paid back to the States”.