A new crisis has reportedly erupted within the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) after claims emerged that 20 governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) passed a vote of no confidence in the forum’s chairman and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma.
The governors were said to have accused Uzodimma of alleged financial misconduct and expressed dissatisfaction with his leadership of the forum.
According to reports, the decision was reached during an emergency meeting held Thursday night in Abuja shortly after Vice President Kashim Shettima submitted the presidential nomination forms of President Bola Tinubu.
Sources within the APC disclosed that the governors resolved to replace Uzodimma with Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, as chairman of the forum.
One of the governors reportedly stated that any leader facing allegations of financial impropriety should either step aside or provide proper accountability.
Another governor noted that since the PGF is a voluntary association, it operates differently from institutions like the National Assembly and therefore has the authority to remove its chairman when necessary.
The governors reportedly insisted that Uzodimma had already been removed and that Mbah should be regarded as the new chairman of the forum.
The meeting was also said to have focused on concerns surrounding Uzodimma’s leadership style, alleged financial irregularities and what members described as inadequate explanations regarding the accusations against him.
Reports further indicated that President Tinubu was informed about the development, although it remains unclear whether he has intervened in the matter.
About 20 governors reportedly attended the meeting, while some others joined virtually.
Governors allegedly opposed to Uzodimma were said to include those 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 reportedly supporting Uzodimma include those from Yobe, Lagos, Gombe, Kogi, Edo, Ekiti, Ondo, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kaduna states.
Reacting to the reports, the Director General of the PGF, Folorunso Aluko, dismissed the claims, insisting that no such meeting or resolution took place.
In a statement, Aluko described the reports as false and unfounded.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Progressive Governors Forum states categorically that the report is entirely false, baseless and without any truth,” the statement read.
The forum also maintained that its secretariat had no record of any resolution removing Uzodimma, reaffirming that he remains the chairman of the PGF.