Senator Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State, has been reported removed as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), a development that emerged just hours after he represented APC governors at the submission of President Bola Tinubu’s presidential nomination forms in Abuja on Thursday. The alleged removal reportedly took place during an extraordinary meeting of about 20 All Progressives Congress (APC) governors held at the Ogun State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja on Thursday night. Governors from states including Ogun, Bayelsa, and Enugu were said to be present at the high-level gathering, where a decision to replace Uzodimma was reportedly made. A new chairman is expected to be announced soon, according to sources close to the meeting.
However, the Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum, Folorunso Aluko, swiftly dismissed the report as false and misleading in a statement issued Thursday night. Aluko insisted that Governor Uzodimma remains the legitimate and active chairman of the forum. He emphasized that no official meeting of the PGF had taken place where such a decision could have been made. “The PGF Secretariat has no record of, and is not aware of, any resolution removing Senator Hope Uzodimma,” Aluko stated, underscoring the forum’s continued unity and commitment to the APC’s goals.
Aluko urged party members and the media to disregard the report entirely, describing it as an attempt to create unnecessary tension within the party structure. He reaffirmed that the forum remains focused on its mandate and continues to support the APC’s agenda under President Tinubu’s leadership. The statement also highlighted the importance of verifying information before dissemination, especially during critical political periods.
The timing of the report has sparked speculation, coming shortly after Uzodimma’s public appearance on behalf of APC governors during the presidential nomination process. Some political observers suggest the development may be linked to internal party dynamics or strategic realignments within the APC leadership. Despite the conflicting narratives, the official stance from the PGF secretariat remains firm: Uzodimma’s position as chairman is unchanged.
As the political landscape in Nigeria continues to evolve, the outcome of this situation could influence governance strategies and party cohesion across states. The PGF plays a crucial role in coordinating state-level actions and aligning them with national party objectives, making any leadership change significant. For now, the forum maintains its public stance, and further developments are expected to emerge in the coming days.
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