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The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing Worldwide, in collaboration with southern Nigeria ethnic youth leaders, has warned against alleged moves to remove the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, as Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).
The group threatened to mobilise nationwide protests if those behind the alleged plot fail to back down.
In a statement by its President, Arthur Obiora, the organisation said youths across the region remained solidly behind Uzodimma, whom it described as a credible political rallying point in the South East.
The group warned that any attempt to remove the governor from the leadership position could negatively affect the electoral fortunes of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South East ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group argued that Governor Uzodimma had emerged as one of the leading voices promoting the administration and re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu in the South East and cautioned against what it described as dangerous ethnic politics capable of undermining the party’s unity.
It also dismissed claims surrounding an alleged missing N800 billion as “unfounded and unsubstantiated fabrication,” insisting that the claims were part of a broader scheme to discredit the Tinubu administration and create division among key stakeholders within the APC.
The statement further alleged that those seeking Uzodimma’s removal were “overly ambitious politicians” attempting to hijack President Tinubu’s political structure ahead of the next election cycle.
“We have been made aware of the fact that those attacking Governor Uzodimma seek to alienate him from the President, so as to gain undue access to hijack and control President Tinubu’s campaign structure and use such influence for selfish political gains ahead of the elections,” the statement read.
The group maintained that Uzodimma currently represents the strongest political voice of the South East within the APC and warned that any attempt to sideline him could alienate the party’s supporters in the region.
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“Governor Hope Uzodimma is the leading voice of the South East within the APC. Any attempt to undermine or sideline him sends a troubling message that the interests and concerns of the South East are not being considered within the Presidency,” the statement added.
The group insisted that Uzodimma has played a key role in advancing the interests of the South East at the federal level, particularly in areas relating to infrastructure, appointments, and resource allocation.
It noted that the governor’s influence had encouraged many people in the region to join and support the APC.
“What makes the attempt at Governor Uzodimma even more dangerous is the effect it has on the many people who believed in him and chose to join the APC because of him. Attacking him means attacking every single person who stood by him and came to the APC because of him,” the statement said.
The youth group also argued that the allegation of a missing N800 billion was aimed at portraying the Tinubu administration in a bad light and bringing the Progressive Governors’ Forum into disrepute.
“Beyond the personal attack on Governor Uzodimma, this allegation of missing N800 billion is also a direct strike at President Tinubu’s government. When people openly claim that N800 billion has gone missing without any solid proof, what they are really doing is trying to paint this administration as corrupt and lacking transparency,” it stated.
The organisation alleged that some governors were uncomfortable with Uzodimma’s influence and role within the APC, particularly regarding the structure of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors initiative.
It, therefore, called on President Tinubu to intervene and prevent the situation from escalating, especially in the South East.
The group also urged members of the APC to appreciate what it described as Governor Uzodimma’s contributions to the growth of the party in the region, warning that any move against him could have negative consequences for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
