In a striking display of party unity, governors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) convened in Benin City, Edo State, on 27–28 June 2025, to endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Hosted by Edo State’s Senator Monday Okpebholo, the two‑day summit of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) professed unwavering loyalty to Tinubu’s policies, even as Nigeria teeters on the brink of reform fatigue and economic volatility.
Critics, however, warn that the communiqué reads more like a choreographed public relations exercise than a blueprint for genuine federal–state collaboration.
From the outset, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, PGF Chairman, framed the meeting as a “crucial platform to harmonise development strategies” and to “reaffirm dedication to people‑centred development, institutional accountability, and inter‑governmental collaboration.”
Yet, beneath the rhetoric lies a nation grappling with stubbornly high inflation—still hovering around 23.7% in May 2025—and uneven growth, despite official claims of recovery.
Food prices remain a daily burden for millions, and unemployment stands at an estimated 22.6% in the first quarter of 2025. The optics of unity contrast sharply with the lived reality of ordinary Nigerians.
A highlight of the Benin gathering was the formal welcoming of Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State into the APC fold.
The communiqué hailed his defection, asserting it “reflects a growing national consensus on the transformative policies being executed by President Tinubu’s administration.” Yet, this apparent surge of confidence belies growing disquiet over the pace and efficacy of reforms.
While Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidies and unification of the foreign‑exchange market freed up resources and narrowed black‑market spreads, those measures also triggered a cost‑of‑living crisis that many Nigerians struggle to bear.
The PGF’s applause for Eno’s switch may speak more to political expediency than grassroots enthusiasm.
On fiscal policy, the governors extolled the increase in federal transfers and pledged to “deepen economic decentralisation in line with Section 13 of the 1999 Constitution,” positioning sub‑national governments as engines of growth.
Indeed, Nigeria recorded a trade surplus of N3.42 trillion (US\$2.25 billion) in Q4 2024, buoyed by exports, and domestic investor confidence has ticked upward. Yet, independent analysts caution that a single headline surplus cannot mask systemic vulnerabilities.
The World Bank projects only 3.6% GDP growth in 2025, a modest uptick from 3.4% in 2024, far below Tinubu’s six‑percent annual target.
Governors’ promises to professionalise procurement and embrace digital governance rings hollow without transparent implementation frameworks and measurable benchmarks.
Security dominated several communiqués. The PGF lauded federal and state collaboration in countering insurgency and banditry, endorsing “inter‑agency coordination, community policing, and grassroots intelligence systems.”
Condolences were offered to victims of violence in Benue and Niger States, while pledges were made to bolster frontline personnel welfare.
Yet, nearly two years into Tinubu’s term, insecurity has intensified in the North‑Central and North‑East, with communities feeling abandoned by a security apparatus overstretched and under‑resourced.
Calls for “greater investment in surveillance infrastructure” must translate into tangible equipment and training at the grassroots, lest the rhetoric remain an empty promise.
The PGF also addressed internal party dynamics, praising a wave of high‑profile entrants into the APC, including National Assembly members, as evidence of “public confidence in the party’s leadership model.”
The resignation of National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was described as “in tandem with the party’s continued evolution.” Yet, factional infighting over party tickets in several states suggests that cohesion is more fragile than the communiqué suggests.
The broad affirmation that “the APC remains the most institutionally‑coherent platform” will ring aspirational unless the party can reconcile competing power blocs and curb destructive zoning debates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As the meeting drew to a close, Governor Uzodimma announced the passing of Alhaji Aminu Dantata of Kano State, a “revered national leader,” prompting a minute’s silence. His death was a sombre reminder of the human dimension often eclipsed by political theatre.
The PGF urged all Nigerians—home and abroad—to rally behind President Tinubu and the APC, pledging to “drive Nigeria’s transformation from the bottom up.”
Yet, for transformation to resonate, governors must move beyond press statements to deliver on commitments: stabilising food prices, generating jobs, securing communities, and restoring faith in institutions.
Ultimately, the Benin summit was less about policy innovation than reaffirming loyalty to the centre.
In an era of reform fatigue, the APC governors’ chorus of praise may provide short‑term unity, but it cannot substitute for bold, measurable actions that address Nigerians’ daily hardships.
For the Renewed Hope Agenda to live up to its name, the party must demonstrate that “people‑centred development” is more than a slogan—it is a tangible upgrade in lives across Nigeria’s diverse states.
Additional reporting by Osaigbovo Okungbowa, Atlantic Post Senior Political Correspondent.
