The governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday urged all relevant stakeholders involved in preparations towards the forthcoming Ekiti and Osun State Governorship elections to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to discharge their duties lawfully and with utmost responsibility.

At the meeting held at the Lagos House, Marina, the governors, under the banner of Progressives Governors’ Forum, deliberated extensively on the preparations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the elections.

They maintained that there was need for adequate preparations in order “to forestall a repeat of the electoral sham experienced in Anambra and Delta States and to restore the credibility in the electoral process”.

On the recent defection of some members of the House of Representatives from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC, the governors called on the members of the National Assembly to remain steadfast in upholding the rights and privileges of its members to choose, without intimidation, the political party of their choice.

A communiqué issued after the meeting and read to reporters by the Forum Chairman and Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, stated that the governors deliberated on the political and security situation in Rivers State and took an in-depth look at the activities of the Nigeria Police Force in the State in the last couple of months.

They frowned at the “recklessness, impunity and outright misconduct of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph Mbu and maintained that the Nigeria Police Force is not a PDP police and such flagrant violations of the Constitution and laws of Nigeria should henceforth stop”.

According to the communiqué, the Forum also deliberated extensively on the need to strengthen the All Progressives Congress and its structures. It discussed political developments in APC States with the aim of building a common development agenda.

Other APC Governors in attendance at the meeting include, Governors of Nassarawa State, Tanko Almakura, Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,  Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Oyo State Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi while the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Umaru Ganduje represented his State Governor, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.