20 APC Governors Reportedly Move Against Uzodinma

No Confidence Vote: 20 APC Governors Reportedly Move Against Uzodinma
Reports claimed Peter Mbah emerged new chairman of governors forum
PGF denied claims, insisting Uzodinma remains forum chairman

A fresh crisis has reportedly rocked the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) following claims that 20 governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress passed a vote of no confidence in the chairman of the forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma.

The governors were said to have accused Uzodinma of financial impropriety and expressed loss of confidence in his leadership of the forum.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to Premium Times, the extraordinary meeting took place on Thursday night in Abuja shortly after Vice President Kashim Shettima submitted President Bola Tinubu’s presidential nomination forms.

Two APC governors who reportedly spoke to the publication claimed that members of the forum resolved to replace Uzodinma with the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, as the new chairman of the forum.

One of the governors was quoted as saying, “If you are accused of impropriety, you should step down or render account.”

Another governor reportedly stated that the Progressive Governors Forum, being a voluntary association, operates differently from legislative institutions such as the National Assembly.

“They can decide to remove the chairman for the reasons stated,” the governor said.

Both governors reportedly insisted that, from their standpoint, Uzodinma had been removed and Mbah had assumed leadership of the forum.

The governors were also said to have raised concerns over Uzodinma’s leadership style, alleged financial misconduct, and failure to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the allegations levelled against him.

Reports further claimed that President Tinubu had been informed of the decision, although it remained unclear whether the President had intervened in the matter.

The crisis was said to have been developing for several weeks before the latest meeting.

About 20 governors reportedly attended the meeting physically, while others joined virtually.

Governors said to have voted against Uzodinma reportedly came from Adamawa State, Zamfara State, Delta State, Akwa Ibom State, Cross River State, Rivers State, Bayelsa State, Benue State, Niger State, Kwara State,

Nasarawa State, Plateau State, Ebonyi State, Ogun State, Borno State, Taraba State, Katsina State, Kebbi State and Kano State.

Those reportedly backing Uzodinma were said to be the governors of Yobe State, Lagos State, Gombe State, Kogi State, Edo State, Ekiti State, Ondo State, Sokoto State, Jigawa State and Kaduna State.

However, the Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum, Folorunso Aluko, denied that any such meeting or resolution took place.

In a statement issued on Friday, Aluko described the report as false and baseless.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Progressive Governors Forum states categorically that the report is entirely false, baseless, and without an iota of truth,” he said.

No Confidence Vote: 20 APC Governors Reportedly Move Against Uzodinma

The forum added that its secretariat had no record of any resolution removing Uzodinma from office.

“The PGF secretariat has no record of, and is not aware of, any resolution removing the Chairman. His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, remains the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum,” the statement added.