A major internal crisis has reportedly erupted within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following the alleged removal of Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, as chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), the powerful body comprising governors elected on the platform of the party.
Verily News reports that the development has unsettled one of the APC’s most influential internal blocs, with reports indicating that no fewer than 20 of the party’s estimated 31 governors backed the move to remove Uzodimma from the leadership of the forum.
Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that the effort to unseat the Imo governor had been building quietly for several months but gained fresh momentum after he represented the forum during the submission of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reelection nomination forms at the APC national secretariat.
Although the exact reasons behind the move remain unclear as of the time of filing this report, insiders suggested that several governors had grown increasingly uneasy over what they described as Uzodimma’s expanding influence within the forum and his perceived closeness to the Presidency.
The meeting where the decision was allegedly taken reportedly held on Thursday night at the Ogun State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.
According to multiple sources, the group pushing for Uzodimma’s removal was allegedly coordinated by Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun.
However, the development has reportedly sparked strong resistance from another bloc of APC governors, who rejected the purported removal and argued that the meeting was not properly convened in line with established procedures.
The disagreement is said to have divided the Progressive Governors’ Forum into opposing camps, raising concerns over a possible deepening internal fracture within the ruling party.
The unfolding crisis has revived memories of the dramatic split that once rocked the Nigeria Governors’ Forum during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
At the time, then Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi defeated Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang in a fiercely contested election that led to the emergence of rival factions aligned with competing political interests.
Political analysts believe the current tension within the PGF could carry even greater consequences given the strategic influence of APC governors in shaping the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Over the years, the Progressive Governors’ Forum has evolved into one of the most powerful decision-making blocs within the APC, often playing a decisive role in leadership negotiations, presidential strategy, internal party structures, and broader political alignments.
The reported move against Uzodimma is therefore being interpreted in several political quarters as more than a routine leadership disagreement, with many seeing it as an indication of deeper power struggles already unfolding ahead of President Tinubu’s reelection campaign.
As of press time, neither the Progressive Governors’ Forum nor Governor Uzodimma had issued an official statement confirming or denying the reported development.
What You Should Know
The reported removal of Hope Uzodimma as chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum signals a potentially significant internal crisis within the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
With over 20 governors reportedly backing the move, the development points to possible divisions within the ruling party’s most powerful caucus.
The PGF plays a critical role in influencing party leadership decisions and presidential strategy. Resistance from some governors suggests the issue remains unresolved and could escalate further.
Political observers see the development as a possible sign of broader power struggles within the APC as alignments and calculations intensify ahead of President Tinubu’s reelection bid.
