The Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) has dismissed reports claiming that Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, was removed as chairman of the body and replaced with Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, describing the development as false and politically motivated.
The denial followed widespread reports alleging that about 20 governors with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), held an extraordinary meeting in Abuja on Thursday night where they allegedly resolved to replace Uzodimma with Mbah.
According to the reports, the alleged meeting was attended by Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, Mr Mbah and several other governors believed to be influential figures within Nigeria’s ruling party.
The reports further claimed that the meeting, allegedly held at the Ogun State Government Lodge in Abuja, ended with a decision to remove Uzodimma as chairman of the forum amid growing internal political realignments within the ruling party.
But in a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, the Director-General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Mr Folorunso Aluko, dismissed the reports as “false and misleading,” insisting that no such meeting took place.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the report is entirely false, baseless and without an iota of truth,” Mr Aluko stated, adding that the PGF secretariat had no knowledge of any resolution removing Uzodimma from office.
The forum maintained that Uzodimma “remains the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum,” stressing that the body remains united and committed to its responsibilities despite what it described as deliberate attempts to create confusion within its ranks.
“The Forum remains united, focused and committed to its responsibilities. Members of the party, faithful and the media are therefore advised to disregard the said report in its entirety,” the statement added.
Despite the official denial, DAILY POST, an online newspaper reported on Friday morning that the meeting indeed held on Thursday night, fuelling fresh speculation about mounting power struggles and strategic positioning among governors of the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections
