Arewa Youth Assembly has called on the Ogun and Enugu State Houses of Assembly to immediately commence impeachment proceedings against Governors Dapo Abiodun and Peter Mbah, accusing them of orchestrating a “palace coup” within the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).
The group alleged that the actions of the two governors pose a direct threat to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 and could destabilise the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The demand follows reports of a leadership crisis within the PGF, after claims emerged that some governors had moved to replace the forum’s chairman, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, with Governor Mbah. The alleged plot was reportedly hatched during a meeting at the Ogun State Government Lodge.
While the PGF Director-General, Folorunso Aluko, has dismissed reports of Uzodimma’s removal as false and misleading, governors loyal to the Imo State helmsman have reportedly held a separate meeting and passed a vote of confidence in him.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Sunday, the National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Youth Assembly, Mohammed Aliyu Sanni, accused Abiodun and Mbah of leading a faction to remove Uzodimma. He claimed the move was designed to create division within the APC ahead of the 2027 general election.
“In a replay of the script of what happened in the run-up to the 2015 election, these enemies of Tinubu and Nigeria want to use the Progressive Governors Forum to launch their assault on our democracy,” Sanni said.
He drew parallels with the crisis that split the Nigeria Governors’ Forum before the 2015 election, which he claimed contributed to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s defeat.
“If you recall, the problem President Jonathan encountered that cost him the presidency started with the division of the Governors Forum headed by then Governor of Rivers State, Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi,” Sanni added.
The group alleged that the plot was timed deliberately. “Just like Brutus struck at a critical time in the reign of Julius Caesar, Abiodun chose the very day Progressive Governors accompanied Vice President Kashim Shettima to submit the re-election forms of President Tinubu to strike,” Sanni said.
The Arewa youths declared their support for Governor Uzodimma, describing him as a nationalist and bridge builder committed to ensuring Tinubu’s victory in 2027. They warned that the alleged coup attempt could frustrate the South’s completion of its tenure, which is expected to last until 2031 under an orderly rotational agreement.
“We also call on the various Houses of Assembly of Ogun and Enugu to begin the process of impeachment of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State for being a threat to our democracy,” the group added.
As of press time, the offices of Governors Abiodun and Mbah had not issued an official response to the impeachment calls.
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