Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has been elected as the new Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, succeeding the late former Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, was elected as the Vice Chairman of the Forum. These elections were held during a meeting at the Presidential Lodge in GRA Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, announced the new leadership roles. Sixteen of the 17 governors from the Southern Governors’ Forum attended, with Rivers State Governor, Similayi Fubara, being the only absentee. The meeting saw the presence of several governors, while some states were represented by their deputies.

The attending governors included:

– Babajide Sanwoolu (Lagos)

– Dapo Abiodun (Ogun)

– Seyi Makinde (Oyo)

– Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti)

– Alex Otti (Abia)

– Godwin Obaseki (Edo)

– Ademola Adeleke (Osun)

– Bassey Otu (Cross River)

– Charles Soludo (Anambra)

– Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi)

– Peter Mbah (Enugu)

– Duoye Diri (Bayelsa)

– Uno Eno (Akwa Ibom)

Deputy governors in attendance were:

– Chinyere Ekomaru (Imo)

– Monday Onyeme (Delta)

– Olayide Adelami (Ondo)

Governor Abiodun expressed gratitude to his colleagues for the election, emphasizing the commitment of the Southern Governors to ensure their states’ pride of place.

He promised to justify the confidence placed in him and Professor Soludo and stated that they would provide detailed communique on the forum’s discussions and aspirations.