All Progressives Congress governors are divided over whether Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo State, remains chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum.
The dispute signals growing internal friction within the party as leaders prepare for the 2027 primaries. A split in the forum's leadership could weaken the party's cohesion during a critical election cycle.
Reports from an extraordinary meeting held Thursday night in Abuja provide contradictory accounts of the proceedings [1, 2]. Some reports state that 20 governors voted to remove Uzodimma and resolve to replace him with Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah [1].
Other accounts suggest the removal did not occur. According to these reports, 18 governors passed a vote of confidence in Uzodimma and dismissed claims that he was being replaced [3].
The Progressive Governors Forum later issued a statement denying the reports of Uzodimma's removal, calling the news false and baseless [4].
This disagreement follows a period of tension within the party. The forum's instability comes shortly after the submission of forms by President Bola Tinubu, adding to the political volatility in Abuja [2].
Uzodimma has served as the chairman of the PGF, a body intended to synchronize the interests of the party's governors. The current lack of consensus on his status reflects a deeper struggle for influence among the state executives [1, 3].
“20 governors voted to remove Uzodimma”
The contradiction between the reported vote to remove Uzodimma and the official PGF denial suggests a fragmented leadership structure within the APC. With the 2027 primaries approaching, the struggle for control over the Progressive Governors Forum indicates that governors are jockeying for position and influence, which may lead to further instability within the party's regional power blocs.
