By Attah Ede
The All Progressives Congress governors, under the aegis of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, on Saturday, affirmed the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Umar Abdullahi Ganduje.
The progressives governors further said Ganduje stepping outside presented itself as a natural progression and a natural step in the party’s ongoing evolution.
The governors in a communiqué issued at the end of their two-day strategic meeting which ended on Saturday in Benin City, Edo State capital, noted that this leadership change aligns with the party’s broader commitment to internal reforms and adaptation.
The communique which was read by the Chairman of the PGF and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, reaffirmed the forum’s dedication towards strengthening party cohesion and promoting people-centred development.
The communique was signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, Fred Itua.
“This meeting provided a crucial platform to harmonise development strategies, reinforce party cohesion, and reaffirm our Forum’s dedication to people-centred development, institutional accountability, and inter-governmental collaboration.
“The APC remains the most institutionally coherent political platform in Nigeria, with unmatched records of reforms, electoral success, and national unity, signalling the party’s confidence in its enduring appeal.”
“The acknowledgement of Ganduje’s resignation as National Chairman was presented as a natural progression. His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s resignation is in tandem with the party’s continued evolution”, the communique read in part.
The Forum recognised Eno’s decision, along with his supporters, as a reflection of “a growing national consensus on the transformative policies being executed by President Tinubu’s administration.”
The governors undertook a comprehensive appraisal of Nigeria’s economic, social, security, and political trajectory, expressing satisfaction with the renewed coordination between federal and state institutions.
They particularly commended the prioritisation of fiscal reform, food security, energy transition, infrastructural modernisation, and social sector revitalisation.
“We are pleased with the renewed coordination between federal and state institutions, which is vital for national progress,” a governor who preferred anonymity remarked, stressing the importance of collaborative governance.
Acknowledging the effectiveness of macroeconomic stabilisation policies such as fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, and debt rationalisation, the Forum expressed support for a strategic pivot towards social equity and inclusive prosperity.
The governors, however, stressed that “while economic indicators show signs of recovery, growth must be further democratised through expanded investments in food security, job creation, poverty eradication, MSMEs, and social safety nets.”
The PGF reaffirmed the critical role of sub-national governments as engines for economic renewal, committing to deepen economic decentralisation in line with Section 13 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
They welcomed the increase in fiscal transfers to states and the growing investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic outlook, noting that “multiple APC-led states are now attracting significant domestic and foreign direct investments, which is a testament to the enabling environment being created
Prominent among highlights of the meeting was the formal welcome of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, into the fold of the APC.
