How NLNG N800 billion fund torn Governors Forum apart, sack of Edun as Minister of Finance – Sources

Fact have emerged that the sum of N800 billion offered to Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG which has been expended without the knowledge of the members of Progressive Governors Forum led to the ongoing crisis.

It was reported that on some investigative online platforms that the fund was released to by the NLNG in his capacity as Chairman of PGF, a Forum of Governors on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Nigeria.

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Sources also indicated that the manner in which the fund found its way to the Progressives Governors Forum partly contributed to the sack of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Economy, Mr Wale Edun, who is a long time ally of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Sources established that the NLNG-linked fund was actually dropped in the PGF vault, but it’s spending was said not to follow expenditure structure, a development that generated a very disturbing accountability.

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The version of SaharaReporters partly read: “It was NLNG funds that were given to the Imo governor. This was partly why the finance minister, Wale Edun, was removed,” a source close to the PGF told SaharaReporters.

“The Imo governor took the NLNG funds to the governors’ forum.”

When the Forum began to boil initially, a local online newspaper THEWILL reported that President Bola Tinubu had intervened without result as angry Governors refused to listen.

The governors alledged mismanagement of the over N800 billion reportedly raised by governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to support the President’s re-election campaign.

The dispute reportedly triggered a deep split within the forum, with Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, and several others recognising Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah as a new chairman of the group.

THEWILL also reported that Uzodimma, who chaired the PGF and was said to have overseen the funds, allegedly became evasive when asked to provide financial accountability.

This reportedly worsened tensions within the forum and led to internal divisions among APC governors.

Sources said the governors had initially agreed to contribute to the presidential campaign through monthly deductions from their Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations, channelled into an account managed under the Renewed Hope Ambassador (RHA) platform.

The RHA initiative was created to promote federal government policies ahead of the 2027 general election. Uzodimma was said to have obtained approval for the deductions through then Finance Minister Wale Edun.

However, as preparations for the 2027 election intensified, a second structure known as the Renewed Hope Network (RHN) was reportedly created for campaign coordination, with expectations that funds would be transferred into its accounts.

Sources said controversy began when Uzodimma allegedly informed colleagues that the funds had already been expended.

President Tinubu later intervened in the crisis while on a foreign official visit, reportedly holding discussions with key governors involved in the dispute.

Following the intervention, sources claimed that some funds were recovered and efforts were underway to account for remaining balances.

The President was also said to have expressed displeasure over the handling of the financial arrangements, with insiders linking the controversy to broader concerns that preceded Edun’s removal from office.

Meanwhile, tensions within the governors’ forum reportedly deepened over leadership style and internal control of resources, with some governors accusing Uzodimma of exerting excessive influence over the PGF structure at the expense of the broader Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

Last week, the PGF dismissed reports alleging the removal of Governor Uzodimma as chairman of the forum, describing the claims as false, misleading, and without any basis.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director General of the forum, Folorunsho Aluko, the PGF said no meeting was held at which such a decision was taken, insisting that Uzodimma remains the authentic chairman of the body.

The forum added that the report circulating on some media platforms was entirely fabricated, stressing that the PGF secretariat has no record of any resolution or discussion regarding the removal of its chairman.

“The Forum remains united, focused, and committed to its responsibilities,” the statement read.

The PGF therefore urged members of the public, party faithful, and the media to disregard the report in its entirety, maintaining that Governor Uzodimma continues to enjoy the confidence and support of governors elected on the platform of the APC.

Meanwhile, opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar, Dino Melaye and others continue to demand reasons from the presidency on the sudden sack of Wale Edun as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Economy.

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