A fresh leadership crisis has engulfed the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), the umbrella body of governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the emergence of rival camps battling for control of the influential political bloc.
The division has pitched governors loyal to Imo State Governor and current PGF chairman, Hope Uzodimma, against another powerful faction reportedly aligned with Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The development has sparked fresh concerns over internal cracks within the ruling APC ahead of crucial political realignments and the build-up to the 2027 general elections.
Uzodimma has maintained that he remains the authentic chairman of the forum, with Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, still serving as deputy chairman. However, reports of intense consultations and behind-the-scenes power negotiations among governors have fuelled speculation of an ongoing struggle for the soul of the forum.
Governors said to be backing the Abiodun-led bloc reportedly include those from Adamawa, Zamfara, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa, Niger, Kwara, Plateau, Enugu and Katsina states.
On the other hand, governors loyal to Uzodimma are said to include those from Kano, Taraba, Kebbi, Yobe, Lagos, Gombe, Kogi, Edo, Ekiti, Ondo, Sokoto, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Nasarawa and Kaduna states.
The crisis intensified on Friday after governors loyal to Uzodimma held an emergency meeting at the Imo State Lodge in Abuja where they reportedly passed a vote of confidence in his leadership.
Governors present at the meeting included Umar Namadi of Jigawa, Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Nasir Idris of Kebbi, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Abba Yusuf of Kano and Ahmed Ododo of Kogi.
Others were Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, Babagana Zulum of Borno, Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, Uba Sani of Kaduna and Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, while Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Emmanuel Akabe, represented his principal at the meeting.
The emergency gathering came hours after the forum dismissed reports claiming Uzodimma had been removed as chairman of the PGF.
Earlier reports had suggested that Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, emerged as the new chairman of the forum during a closed-door meeting allegedly attended by about 20 APC governors in Abuja on Thursday night.
However, neither camp has officially disclosed the exact cause of the disagreement, leaving party insiders and political observers speculating over possible succession battles, regional interests and growing power blocs within the APC.
The latest development is expected to heighten tensions within the ruling party as stakeholders continue consultations over the future direction of the APC and its internal power structure.