Twenty governors from the All Progressives Congress have moved to remove Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, citing financial impropriety and loss of confidence in his leadership. The decision was reportedly taken during an extraordinary meeting held Thursday night in Abuja, shortly after Vice President Kashim Shettima submitted President Bola Tinubu's presidential nomination forms. Two APC governors who spoke to Premium Times confirmed the resolution to replace Uzodimma with Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah as the new chairman.
One governor stated, "If you are accused of impropriety, you should step down or render account." Another noted that the PGF, as a voluntary association, operates differently from legislative bodies and can remove its chairman based on stated reasons. The governors who supported the move are from Adamawa, Zamfara, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa, Benue, Niger, Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau, Enugu, Ebonyi, Ogun, Borno, Taraba, Katsina, Kebbi and Kano.
Those reportedly backing Uzodimma include the governors of Yobe, Lagos, Gombe, Kogi, Edo, Ekiti, Ondo, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kaduna. The group reportedly informed President Bola Tinubu of their decision, though it is unclear whether he has intervened. The crisis has reportedly been brewing for weeks. About 20 governors attended, some virtually.
PGF Director General Folorunso Aluko denied the report, calling it "entirely false, baseless, and without an iota of truth." He stated the secretariat has no record of any resolution removing Uzodimma. "His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, remains the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum," Aluko said.
Hope Uzodimma faces removal over financial impropriety allegations while still being recognised as PGF chairman by the forum's secretariat. This split decision leaves governors in conflicting camps without a clear leadership structure. Governors who acted on the allegations now back Peter Mbah, while the official PGF position maintains Uzodimma's authority. The contradiction undermines the forum's credibility and creates confusion over who speaks for APC governors.
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