Governors elected on the platform of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have passed a vote of confidence in Hope Uzodinma, reaffirming his position as chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum amid speculation of an internal leadership shake-up.
The show of support followed reports that some members of the forum had allegedly announced Peter Mbah as the new leader of the group during discussions on Thursday night.
But after a closed-door meeting at the Imo Lodge in Abuja on Friday, 18 governors physically present dismissed suggestions of division within the forum and reiterated their backing for Uzodinma and the forum’s deputy chairman, Uba Sani.
Among those in attendance were the governors of Ondo, Kaduna, Taraba, Sokoto, Ebonyi, Borno, Lagos, Kogi, Kano, Yobe, Kebbi, Benue and Jigawa states, while Nasarawa State was represented by its deputy governor.
Agbu Kefas was also reported to have attended briefly before departing after a short meeting with Uzodinma.
Moving the motion for the vote of confidence, Nasir Idris said the forum remained firmly behind its current leadership.
“We don’t have any problem to justify what they have said,” Idris told journalists. “So, I want to seize this opportunity to move a vote of confidence in our chairman and his deputy.”
Sani described reports of a split within the governors’ forum as “unfortunate”, insisting that the APC remained united behind Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.
“What I can say here is that all of us woke up to that very unfortunate story, which was virtually in all the media in Nigeria,” he said. “But the truth of the matter is that the APC Progressive Governors’ Forum is very united.”
“We are stronger now than at any other time. And, of course, we are all supporting our President for what he has been doing.”
Uzodinma also dismissed suggestions of internal discontent, saying APC governors were committed to ensuring Tinubu’s re-election in the 2027 presidential poll.
“Governors of the All Progressives Congress are united and resolved to support Mr President and ensure that he emerges successfully in the upcoming elections in January 2027,” he said.
The Imo governor added that the forum had agreed to intensify governance efforts and expand social interventions in a bid to improve public confidence ahead of the next election cycle.
“We have decided to work harder, look after our people, demonstrate performance, and provide all the necessary social interventions that will make Nigerians happy,” Uzodinma said.
