A fierce power struggle over control of the influential Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) appeared to deepen on Friday as Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma pushed back against reports alleging his removal as chairman of the body.
Verily News reports that the rebuttal issued through the official machinery of the PGF secretariat signals what may be the opening stage of a significant internal confrontation within the ruling All Progressives Congress and its most powerful caucus of governors.
The development followed reports aired by Arise News claiming that about 20 APC governors met at the Ogun State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja on Thursday night and resolved to remove Uzodimma as chairman of the forum.
Sources had earlier suggested that dissatisfaction with the Imo governor had been building quietly for months, allegedly reaching a breaking point after he represented the forum during the submission of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election nomination forms at the APC national secretariat.
The report triggered widespread political speculation, with observers interpreting the alleged move as a reflection of deeper tensions within the APC’s internal power structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, in a swift response on Friday, the PGF secretariat strongly denied the claim.
The Director-General of the forum, Folorunsho Aluko, dismissed the report and insisted that no meeting took place where such a decision was reached.
“No meeting of the forum was held at which any such decision was taken,” Aluko said.
He further stated that the secretariat had no official record indicating that Uzodimma had been removed from his position as chairman.
The rebuttal is widely seen as an attempt by Uzodimma’s camp to firmly reject the narrative of his ouster and reassert control over the forum.
Despite the denial, uncertainty remains over the true level of support the Imo governor commands within the body, particularly amid claims that a significant number of governors may have backed efforts to unseat him.
The controversy has now exposed possible cracks within the APC’s most influential governors’ bloc, raising concerns that any prolonged internal disagreement could alter political calculations ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s anticipated re-election bid in 2027.
Political analysts say the Progressive Governors’ Forum has long served as a central power base within the APC, influencing key party decisions, leadership contests, and broader national political strategy.
Any sustained instability within the forum could therefore have far-reaching implications for internal party cohesion and future alignments.
As of the time of filing this report, Governor Uzodimma himself has not personally issued a statement addressing the claims.
What You Should Know
The Progressive Governors’ Forum is one of the most powerful blocs within the APC, often shaping major party decisions and political direction.
Reports of Hope Uzodimma’s alleged removal, though denied by the PGF secretariat, suggest possible internal disagreements among APC governors.
If tensions persist, they could influence party unity and strategic positioning ahead of the 2027 elections, especially as governors remain central to President Tinubu’s political structure and national mobilisation efforts.
