A serious crisis has erupted within the ruling APC following the reported removal of Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, as chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), the influential caucus of governors elected on the platform of the party.
The move against Uzodimma has thrown the party’s most powerful internal bloc into turmoil, with no fewer than 20 of the APC’s estimated 31 governors said to have backed the move to oust him from office as the PGF leader, reports GWG.ng.
Sources familiar with the development disclosed that the plot to remove the Imo governor had been quietly brewing for months but allegedly gained momentum after Uzodimma represented the forum during the submission of President Bola Tinubu’s reelection nomination forms at the APC national secretariat.
Though the exact grievances against Uzodimma were not immediately clear as of press time, insiders claimed that some governors had become uncomfortable with what they described as his growing dominance over the PGF and perceived closeness to the presidency.
The meeting where the decision to sack Uzodimma was allegedly taken reportedly held Thursday night at the Ogun State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.
According to multiple sources, the anti-Uzodimma camp was coordinated by Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, although the development has already triggered sharp disagreements among APC governors.
A number of governors were said to have rejected the purported removal, insisting that the meeting was not properly convened and that due process was not followed.
The disagreement has now reportedly split the Progressive Governors’ Forum into opposing camps, reviving memories of the dramatic implosion of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, 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 controversial NGF election that eventually split governors into rival factions loyal to opposing political interests.
Political observers say the present turmoil in the PGF may have even deeper implications given the strategic role of APC governors in determining the direction of the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The PGF has over the years emerged as the strongest caucus within the APC, influencing presidential decisions, party structures, leadership contests and national political alignments.
The reported rebellion against Uzodimma is therefore being interpreted in many quarters as more than just a leadership dispute, but a possible sign of deeper power struggles within the ruling party ahead of President Tinubu’s reelection battle.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the PGF nor Uzodimma had issued an official statement on the alleged sack.
