By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
5- OCT- 2026
Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Senator Hope Uzodimma, has disclosed that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress are preparing to intensify their political and public engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Uzodimma made the disclosure after meeting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the President’s Lagos residence on Sunday, where he said he briefed the Nigerian leader on developments across the country and the activities of the Progressive Governors Forum during the President’s recent working leave.
Describing the meeting as a “quality conversation,” the Imo Governor said the briefing was necessary following Tinubu’s return, particularly to update him on developments that occurred while he was away and on the activities undertaken by the governors.
According to Uzodimma, the Progressive Governors Forum had remained active during the President’s absence, particularly in communicating the administration’s policies and reported achievements to Nigerians.
He said the governors were now looking beyond explaining the reforms to focusing more directly on how their benefits could reach citizens.
The PGF Chairman said the emphasis of the reform agenda had, in his view, shifted from implementation to the delivery of tangible benefits, with state governments expected to play a role in ensuring that citizens experience the effects of the policies.
Gov Uzodimma said the governors had taken their cue from President Tinubu’s recent national broadcast and would continue working towards translating government policies into practical outcomes for Nigerians.
The governor also linked the reform conversation to developments in the transportation sector, particularly the Federal Government’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative.
He urged transport operators to ensure that reductions in operating costs arising from cheaper CNG translate into lower fares for commuters.
The position is consistent with the Federal Government’s stated objective under the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme of achieving measurable reductions in transportation costs, with President Tinubu urging states and transport operators to ensure that energy savings reach passengers through lower fares.
Gov. Uzodimma further said the reforms had strengthened the financial position of state governments, arguing that improved resources were giving many states greater capacity to meet salary obligations and undertake development projects.
Reflecting on his experience in Imo State, the governor recalled that when he assumed office, the state faced difficulties in meeting its financial obligations after the payment of salaries.
He said the situation had since improved, maintaining that Imo State was now able to pay salaries while also funding projects and other government activities.
Gov. Uzodimma said the experience was not peculiar to Imo, adding that several governors had continued to undertake projects and implement programmes within their respective states.
On the political front, the PGF Chairman said the governors were ready to commence intensified campaign and political mobilisation activities following President Tinubu’s return from his working leave.
He said the governors would continue working with the party while communicating the administration’s policies and achievements to Nigerians as the country approaches the 2027 electoral cycle. Recent reports have similarly quoted Uzodimma as saying the governors’ campaign activities would begin almost immediately following the President’s return.
The development comes as political parties and their various structures begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections, with public communication around government programmes increasingly forming part of political mobilisation.
Beyond the political dimension, however, Uzodimma maintained that the more important measure of the reforms should be their practical effect on ordinary citizens.
He therefore stressed that government policies should ultimately be assessed by the extent to which Nigerians experience improvements in areas affecting their daily lives, including transportation, employment, public services and economic opportunities.
The Imo Governor expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the reforms, while reiterating that the governors would focus on ensuring that the people described as the real beneficiaries of the policies are able to experience their impact.
His latest remarks therefore combine two strands of the current national conversation: the political preparations already gathering momentum ahead of 2027 and the continuing debate over whether economic reforms are translating into measurable improvements in the everyday lives of Nigerians.