Nigeria, May 23 -- The Nigeria Governors Forum on Wednesday elected Kayode Fayemi as its new chairman for a term of two years.

The Ekiti State governor was chosen at a gathering of the 36 governors in Abuja Wednesday night, following his nomination by Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State. Some governors, including Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, were not in attendance, but they were said to have sent representatives.

Mr El-Rufai was believed to be a contender for the top position in the forum, which is a congregation of all the country's 36 governors towards a common front.

But hours ahead of the meeting, Mr Fayemi rocketed into the lead for the influential position, with governors from the south expressing sentiments about a rotational chair...