Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi

Governor of Rivers State

Date of Birth: 27/05/1965
Place of Birth: Umuordu-Ubima

Education: St Theresa's Primary School, Ubima, 1976; Okolobiri School, 1982; University of Port Harcourt, 1987.

Career: Public Relations Officer, Pamo Clinics and Hospitals Limited, Port Harcourt, 1988; Special Assistant to Peter Odili, 1992; Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, 1999-2007; Governor of Rivers State, 2007 to date.

Commentary: Amaechi had the unusual fortune of being named governor by a court ruling on elections he had not participated in. He had brought suit over the decision of his party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), to make Celestine Omehia their candidate for governor. Omehia had been the favored candidate of Odili, governor for the previous eight years. Amaechi had also been close to Odili, serving first as his personal assistant and then as the speaker of the State House of Assembly at Odili’s behest.

Odili and Omehia viewed Amaechi’s suit as treachery and this perception only increased when Amaechi won the suit and was named automatic winner of the election Omehia thought he had won.  Amaechi had the support of militants during his challenge but split with them after he was named governor, refusing payments or jobs on state payroll. Amaechi has not been free from allegations of corruption.