Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has launched a blistering attack on some of his fellow All Progressives Congress (APC) governors over their alleged plot to remove Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF). Nwifuru, who spoke during a stakeholders’ rally in Abakaliki on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, praised President Bola Tinubu for outsmarting the “rebellious” governors and thwarting what he described as an attempt to destroy the party from within.
“When they connived to work against our leader, the chairman of the South‑Eastern Nigerian Governor’s Forum, the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, when they wanted to indirectly destroy our party, Mr. President strategically showed all of them that he is more intelligent than all of them,” Nwifuru declared to a cheering crowd. He alleged that the plotters falsely claimed that President Tinubu had directed them to remove Uzodimma, a move he said was designed to legitimise their action.
“They indirectly came behind and said they wanted to remove the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum. And they say it’s Mr. President that directed them,” Nwifuru said. He insisted that the leadership structure within the APC remained intact, praising Tinubu’s decision‑making and political strategy while reaffirming Uzodimma’s position as PGF chairman.
The Ebonyi governor also underscored the strategic importance of the PGF chairmanship to the South‑East, noting that Tinubu had deliberately granted the position to the region to ensure its inclusion in the party’s national structure. “When Mr. President gave the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum to South‑eastern Nigeria, we were only two in South‑East that are members of that organisation. And because Mr. President has our interest in mind, that is why he gave us that opportunity,” Nwifuru said, referring to himself and Uzodimma.
The crisis within the PGF erupted in early May 2026 when reports emerged that at least 20 APC governors had passed a vote of no confidence in Uzodimma, accusing him of financial impropriety, abuse of office, and loss of confidence in his leadership. The meeting where the decision to sack Uzodimma was allegedly taken was reportedly held at the Ogun State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, and was coordinated by Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun. Some of the aggrieved governors proposed Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, as Uzodimma’s replacement.
The alleged plot, which unfolded hours after Uzodimma had spoken on behalf of APC governors during President Tinubu’s submission of his presidential nomination forms in Abuja, was widely condemned by various groups and quickly fell apart following President Tinubu’s intervention. The PGF secretariat swiftly dismissed reports of Uzodimma’s removal as “false, misleading and without any basis”, while Uzodimma continued to chair an emergency meeting of the forum just hours after the plot was hatched.
Governor Nwifuru’s intervention comes as the APC prepares for the 2027 general elections, with the PGF serving as a critical platform for coordinating the party’s gubernatorial machinery and mobilising support across the states. The failed plot against Uzodimma has been widely interpreted as a sign of deeper tensions within the ruling party, with some analysts warning that such internal crises could undermine President Tinubu’s re‑election bid, particularly in the South‑East where the APC needs to perform credibly.
The leadership of the APC and the Presidency have not issued an official response to Nwifuru’s remarks, but his strong defence of Uzodimma and his praise of Tinubu’s political acumen signal a clear alignment with the president’s faction within the party. As the 2027 election cycle gathers momentum, the battle for control of the PGF and the broader APC structure is likely to intensify, with Nwifuru’s comments serving as a stark warning to those who may contemplate similar moves in the future.
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