Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger State) were among the governors that stayed away from yesterday's meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors' Forum in Abuja.

Other governors who stayed away are Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu). The PDP Governors' Forum was meeting for the first time following its formation a fortnight ago.

While seven PDP governors: Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Abdullahi Ahmed (Kwara), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Alhaji Garba Umar (acting governor of Taraba), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Ramalan Yero (Kaduna) attended in person, the deputy governors of Benue, Adamawa, Plateau, Katsina, Abia, Bauchi, Ebonyi and Kogi states represented their bosses.

The meeting, which started at about 8pm at the Akwa Ibom Governor's Lodge in Abuja, had on its agenda, among other issues, the formal organisation of the body, while the chairmanship of the larger Nigeria Governors' Forum, though slated for discussion, was put on hold due to the absence of most governors.