A significant leadership crisis has erupted within the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) of Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), centering on the chairmanship of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma. The controversy escalated after reports emerged that 20 APC governors had, at an extraordinary meeting held Thursday night in Abuja, passed a vote of no confidence on Governor Uzodinma, resolving to strip him of his chairmanship and install Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah as the new PGF chairman. These governors reportedly accused Mr. Uzodinma of financial impropriety and a loss of confidence in his leadership style, citing his failure to provide satisfactory explanations to the accusations leveled against him.

Despite the resolution reportedly passed against him, Governor Uzodinma on Friday night shared photographs on X, depicting him presiding over a PGF meeting. He was seen alongside his deputy and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani. In a statement accompanying the photographs, Uzodinma asserted that deliberations focused on reviewing progress, strengthening strategic engagement ahead of party primaries, and the 2027 Presidential Election. He also claimed that the governors present at the Friday meeting unanimously reaffirmed their endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid, emphasizing unity and the party's commitment to delivering hope and stability to Nigerians.

However, an analysis of the photographs revealed a stark absence of most of the 20 governors who had reportedly voted for Uzodinma's removal. Among those who backed his purported removal, only the governors of Kano, Kebbi, Benue, Ebonyi, and Borno states were visible at Uzodinma's Friday meeting. Responses from spokespersons of some of these states were cautious: Kebbi and Kano's spokespersons did not comment, while Benue State Governor's chief press secretary stated he had no knowledge of PGF discussions as it's a voluntary association. The Ebonyi State Governor's spokesperson denied his principal was in Abuja for any Thursday meeting, citing his presence at a local government function in Ebonyi. Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum's media aide confirmed his principal's attendance at Friday's meeting but stressed that it was a