APC Governors Forum Rocked by Leadership Crisis as Rival Factions Emerge Ahead of 2027

Uzodimma insists he remains PGF chairman amid reports of a rival bloc led by Governors Abiodun and AbdulRazaq.

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By John Ishaku / ABUJA — May 9, 2026

Fresh cracks have emerged within the All Progressives Congress following reports of a leadership crisis in the influential Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), with rival factions allegedly forming ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development comes despite a recent vote of confidence passed on the Chairman of the forum, Hope Uzodimma, and renewed endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid by APC governors.

Rival Factions Allegedly Emerge Within PGF

Sources within the ruling party indicated that a factional divide had surfaced within the Progressive Governors Forum, with one camp reportedly rallying behind Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The alleged faction is said to be positioning itself against the current leadership structure headed by Uzodimma and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani.

Although details surrounding the disagreement remain unclear, party insiders suggested that tensions had been building over internal control of the forum and strategic political alignments ahead of the next election cycle.

Neither camp had officially released a detailed statement on the reported division as of press time.

APC Governors Publicly Back Uzodimma

Despite the reports of division, APC governors at a closed-door meeting in Abuja publicly reaffirmed confidence in Uzodimma’s leadership.

The motion endorsing Uzodimma and his deputy, Uba Sani, was moved by Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris and seconded during the meeting.

Speaking to journalists afterward, Idris dismissed reports that Uzodimma had been removed as chairman of the PGF.

According to him, over 18 APC governors attended the meeting and unanimously expressed support for the existing leadership structure.

“The fact that Governor Uzodimma presided over the meeting alongside his deputy clearly shows that the leadership of the forum remains intact,” Idris stated.

He also cautioned media organisations against publishing unverified political reports capable of escalating tensions within the ruling party.

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Governors Reaffirm Support for Tinubu’s Re-Election

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Uzodimma maintained that the Progressive Governors Forum remained united and focused on supporting President Tinubu’s second-term ambition in 2027.

The Imo State governor said APC governors would not allow fake news or political distractions to derail their commitment to the president’s administration.

“As you are aware, just two days ago, we accompanied Vice President Kashim Shettima to submit the nomination forms of President Tinubu, signifying that he is recontesting,” Uzodimma said.

“We have just concluded a meeting to reaffirm our unflinching support for him,” he added.

APC Governors Cite Tinubu’s Reforms

Uzodimma explained that the governors’ support for Tinubu was based on what they described as ongoing economic reforms and infrastructure development initiatives across the country.

According to him, the administration’s policies were gradually repositioning Nigeria’s economy and strengthening governance structures.

He urged Nigerians to continue supporting the Tinubu administration to allow ongoing reforms and programmes to yield long-term benefits.

Growing Political Realignments Ahead of 2027

Political observers say the reported division within the Progressive Governors Forum may signal deeper internal power struggles within the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

Governors remain influential power brokers within Nigeria’s political system, and any crack within the PGF could significantly impact party negotiations, presidential calculations and future alliances.

The emerging tensions are also expected to shape discussions around succession politics, control of party structures and strategic positioning within the ruling party.

While APC governors publicly project unity and support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid, reports of rival factions within the Progressive Governors Forum suggest that internal political maneuvering ahead of 2027 may already be intensifying behind the scenes.