18 APC Governors Reaffirm Uzodimma as PGF Chairman

Eighteen governors elected on the All Progressives Congress platform passed a vote of confidence Friday in Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, rejecting reports that emerged the previous night claiming his removal. The reaffirmation came during a closed-door meeting at the Imo State Governor's Lodge in Abuja.

The controversy began Thursday evening when sources described a gathering of about 20 APC governors at the Ogun State Governor's Lodge in Abuja. Attendees reportedly included governors from Ogun, Bayelsa, and Enugu states. Those accounts claimed the group decided to oust Uzodimma and install Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah as the new chairman, citing unspecified concerns over leadership and finances. No official confirmation of that meeting's resolutions has emerged.

Folorunsho Aluko, director general of the Progressive Governors Forum, swiftly denied the reports in a statement Friday morning. "No meeting of the forum was held at which any such decision was taken," Aluko said. "The PGF Secretariat has no record of, and is not aware of, any resolution removing the chairman. His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma remains the...