The 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 over their alleged involvement in the crisis rocking the Progressive Governors' Forum (PGF). The group alleged that the actions of the two governors posed a threat to the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 and could destabilise the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Background of the Crisis
The development followed reports of crisis within the PGF after claims emerged that some governors had moved to replace Uzodimma with Mbah during a meeting reportedly held at the Ogun State Government Lodge. However, the Director-General of the forum, Folorunso Aluko, dismissed reports of Uzodimma's removal, describing them as false and misleading. Meanwhile, governors loyal to Uzodimma reportedly held a separate meeting where they passed a vote of confidence in him.
Arewa Youth Assembly's Allegations
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Sunday, the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Mohammed Aliyu Sanni, accused the governors of spearheading an alleged plot to remove the Chairman of the PGF and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma. Sanni claimed that the alleged move was aimed at creating division within the APC ahead of the 2027 general election. The group alleged that Abiodun led a faction of governors that attempted to remove Uzodimma from office, adding that Mbah was recruited into the plot.
According to the Arewa youths, the crisis was reminiscent of the division within the Nigeria Governors' Forum ahead of the 2015 election, which they claimed contributed to the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The group alleged that the governors behind the move intended to weaken the internal structure of the APC and frustrate Tinubu's second-term ambition.
Statements from the Group
“While we admit that anyone be he a governor, Senator or ordinary Nigerian has a right to exercise his democratic rights, we know what would happen should we experience a situation where power will return to the North in 2027 as against the orderly rotation agreement which means that the South will complete its tenure by 2031. Now, some people, unfortunately from the South, have devised a devious plan not only to destabilise the polity but to truncate the reelection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. 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. 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. Because these renegades could not break and manipulate Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who is the current Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, they went for a soft target in the person of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state to set in motion a machinery to stop the reelection of Tinubu. 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 reelection forms of President Tinubu to strike.”
Call for Impeachment
The group also called on the Ogun and Enugu State Houses of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against Abiodun and Mbah, alleging that their actions constituted a threat to democracy. “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. The Arewa youths declared support for Uzodimma, describing him as a nationalist and bridge builder committed to ensuring Tinubu's victory in 2027.
