Don’t Repeat PDP Mistake On Governors’ Forum, Group Tells APC

The Forum of Nigerian Professionals in Politics (FNPP) has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC), against destabilising the leadership structure of the Progressive Governors’ Forum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

It urged the ruling party to avoid repeating what it described as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) costly mistake involving the Nigeria Governors’ Forum before the 2015 polls.

The group specifically cautioned against any move capable of weakening the forum currently led by the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma.

In a statement signed by its national chairman, Amb. Sani Magaji, and national secretary, Engr. Ike Chidolue, the group alleged that there were plots to destabilise the PGF at a “critical stage of political consolidation” ahead of the 2027 elections.

The group described such moves as dangerous and capable of weakening political coordination around President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

FNPP said the PGF under Uzodimma and Governor Uba Sani, who serves as deputy chairman, had evolved into one of the strongest political coordination structures within the APC.

The statement read in part, “The Progressive Governors Forum under the leadership of His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, Executive Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, alongside Governor Uba Sani as Deputy Chairman, has evolved into one of the strongest stabilizing political structures within the APC and the broader Renewed Hope political architecture nationally.

“Since Senator Hope Uzodimma assumed leadership of the PGF, the forum has witnessed unprecedented expansion, stronger coordination amongst governors, broader coalition-building, deeper inclusiveness, and remarkable strategic alignment around the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.”

The group argued that the increasing political migration into the APC and growing confidence within the ruling party coalition were partly linked to the activities of the forum.

According to FNPP, opposition elements allegedly see a united and coordinated PGF as a major political advantage for President Tinubu and the APC ahead of 2027.

Drawing parallels with events in the PDP before the 2015 elections, the group said the opposition party weakened itself after former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi was removed from the leadership of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

“The PDP made this same strategic mistake when former Governor Rotimi Amaechi was removed from leadership of the Governors Forum shortly before a critical national election cycle.

“That decision fractured coordination amongst governors, weakened the political engine room of the ruling party, triggered internal hostilities, and ultimately contributed to the collapse of PDP’s political dominance nationally,” the statement added.

The group warned that any attempt to undermine the current PGF leadership structure at this stage could negatively affect President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election project.

It added that while governors interested in leading the forum could legitimately pursue such ambitions, the period before the next election was not the right time for internal political battles.

FNPP urged President Tinubu to intervene and ensure unity within the APC, insisting that no personal ambition should override the broader objective of sustaining the Renewed Hope Agenda and securing victory for the ruling party in 2027.

“The President must protect the structures that are working. The President must protect the machinery stabilizing the coalition,” the group said