Governors elected under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have unanimously reaffirmed their confidence in Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), dismissing widespread reports suggesting he had been removed from office. The governors also reiterated their commitment to party unity as preparations gradually begin ahead of the APC’s 2027 presidential primaries.
The Director General of the forum, Folorunsho Aluko, also denied claims that Uzodimma had been replaced, insisting no official decision to that effect was ever taken.
Controversy erupted on Thursday night after reports surfaced that some members of the forum met privately at the Ogun State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja and allegedly announced Peter Mbah as the new chairman of the group. Sources close to the development described the move as an attempted power play aimed at reshaping the forum’s leadership.
According to insiders, about 20 governors associated with the APC attended the secretive gathering, including governors from Ogun, Bayelsa, and Enugu states.
The reported development came only hours after Uzodimma represented APC governors at the presentation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential nomination and expression of interest forms in Abuja.
However, by Friday morning, Aluko released a statement dismissing the reports and insisting that no meeting had formally approved Uzodimma’s removal.
He stated that the PGF Secretariat had no knowledge of any resolution replacing the chairman, emphasizing that Uzodimma remained the duly recognized leader of the forum. Aluko further stressed that the governors’ forum continued to remain united and focused on its responsibilities.
In response to the growing speculation, Uzodimma convened an emergency meeting of APC governors on Friday afternoon at the Imo State Lodge in Abuja to address the situation.
At the end of the closed-door session, attended by 18 governors, members publicly reaffirmed their loyalty and support for Uzodimma’s leadership.
It was gathered that the Presidency also stepped into the matter, reportedly advising governors to maintain the existing leadership structure within the forum.
Among those present at the meeting were governors from Ondo, Kaduna, Taraba, Sokoto, Ebonyi, Borno, Lagos, Kogi, Kano, Yobe, Kebbi, Benue, and Jigawa states, while Nasarawa State was represented by its deputy governor. The Taraba governor reportedly attended briefly before leaving after a short discussion with the host.
During the meeting, Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, formally moved a motion expressing confidence in Uzodimma and his deputy, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani.
Idris maintained that there was no crisis within the forum to justify the reports circulating in the media, adding that members remained satisfied with the current leadership arrangement.
Speaking after the meeting, Uba Sani described the reports of division within the forum as unfortunate and misleading. According to him, APC governors remained more united than ever and continued to strongly support President Tinubu’s administration.
He assured Nigerians that the APC, its governors, and the Progressive Governors Forum remained firmly united without any internal conflict.
Uzodimma also addressed the controversy, insisting that governors under the APC were focused on governance, improving the welfare of citizens, and ensuring President Tinubu secures victory in the 2027 elections.
He explained that the governors had resolved to intensify efforts in delivering democratic dividends, improving social interventions, and implementing policies that would positively impact Nigerians, describing these as the major resolutions reached during the meeting.