Fresh tension has erupted within the Progressive Governors Forum amid reports that a majority of governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have allegedly withdrawn their support for the forum’s chairman and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma.
The development reportedly followed a closed-door meeting held in Abuja on Thursday night, shortly after Vice President Kashim Shettima submitted President Bola Tinubu’s presidential nomination forms.
According to reports, governors at the meeting accused Uzodimma of alleged financial misconduct and expressed dissatisfaction with his handling of the affairs of the forum.
Sources familiar with the discussions claimed that the governors concluded that they no longer had confidence in his leadership.
The Proposal
It was further gathered that the governors proposed the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, as a replacement to lead the forum.
One governor quoted in the report argued that any leader facing allegations of impropriety should either step aside or provide a detailed explanation regarding the accusations.
Another source maintained that the PGF, unlike legislative institutions, operates as a voluntary association and could therefore decide internally to change its leadership.
The sources insisted that, in their view, Uzodimma had effectively been removed while Mbah had emerged as the new chairman.
The governors were also said to have informed President Tinubu about their decision, although it remains uncertain whether the President has taken any steps to address the growing dispute within the forum.
Reports indicated that about 20 governors participated in the meeting, with some joining virtually.
The Clash
Those allegedly supporting the move against Uzodimma were said to include governors from Adamawa, Zamfara, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa, Benue, Niger, Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau, Enugu, Ebonyi, Ogun, Borno, Taraba, Katsina, Kebbi and Kano states.
Meanwhile, governors from Yobe, Lagos, Gombe, Kogi, Edo, Ekiti, Ondo, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kaduna were reportedly aligned with Uzodimma.
However, the leadership of the Progressive Governors Forum has strongly denied the claims.
In a statement issued by the forum’s Director-General, Folorunso Aluko, the report was dismissed as false and misleading.
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Aluko stated that no meeting was held to remove Uzodimma and that the forum had not adopted any resolution concerning a leadership change.
He stressed that the PGF secretariat had no knowledge of any action taken against the Imo State governor, insisting that Uzodimma remains the duly recognised chairman of the forum.