APC governors back Uzodimma, dismiss leadership change claims

Governors elected on the platform of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have passed a vote of confidence in the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, dismissing reports of a leadership change within the group.

The endorsement came after speculation that Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, had emerged as the new leader of the forum following a reported meeting by some members on Thursday night.

Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting at the Imo Lodge on Friday, governors present reaffirmed their support for Mr Uzodimma’s leadership and described the forum as united.

Governors from Ondo, Kaduna, Taraba, Sokoto, Ebonyi, Borno, Lagos, Kogi, Kano, Yobe, Kebbi, Benue and Jigawa states attended the meeting, while Nasarawa State was represented by its deputy governor.

Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, who moved the motion for the vote of confidence, said Mr Uzodimma and Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, remained chairman and deputy chairman of the forum respectively.

“We don’t have any problem to justify what they have said. So, I want to seize this opportunity to move a vote of confidence in our chairman and his deputy,” Mr Idris said.

Mr Sani also dismissed reports of division within the forum, saying APC governors remained united in support of President Bola Tinubu and the party.

“All of us woke up to that very unfortunate story, which was virtually in all the media in Nigeria. But the truth of the matter is that the APC Progressive Governors’ Forum is very united,” he said.

“We are stronger now than at any other time.”

Mr Uzodimma also denied any crisis within the APC, saying governors on the party’s platform were committed to supporting the president ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Governors of the All Progressives Congress are united and resolved to support the President and ensure that he emerges successfully in the upcoming elections in January 2027,” he said.

He added that the governors had resolved to focus on governance, improve social interventions and deliver policies aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerians.

Source: Punch Newspapers