APC governors divided as Uzodimma, Abiodun camps battle for control

A fresh leadership crisis has erupted within the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), with governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) now split into rival camps loyal to Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, and Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun.

Uzodimma, who currently chairs the forum, has insisted he remains in control of the PGF alongside Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, who serves as deputy chairman.

However, another bloc of governors is reportedly backing Abiodun and Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, amid growing dissatisfaction within the forum.

Governors believed to be aligned with Abiodun’s camp are from Adamawa, Zamfara, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa, Niger, Kwara, Plateau, Enugu, Katsina states and one more.

On the other hand, 18 governors are said to be backing Uzodimma.

The division became more pronounced on Friday after governors loyal to Uzodimma held an emergency meeting at the Imo State Lodge in Abuja and passed a vote of confidence in him.

Governors present at the meeting included Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Abba Yusuf (Kano), Ahmed Ododo (Kogi), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Uba Sani (Kaduna) and Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo) among others.

Emmanuel Akabe, deputy governor of Nasarawa State, also attended on behalf of Governor Abdullahi Sule. The meeting came hours after the PGF dismissed reports claiming Uzodimma had been removed as chairman of the forum.

Earlier reports had alleged that Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, emerged as the new PGF chairman following a closed-door meeting of APC governors in Abuja on Thursday night.

As of the time of filing this report, neither faction had issued an official statement detailing the cause of the internal rift.