SOME chieftains of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) have renewed their allegiance to the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration ahead of the 2027 poll.
The group led by the former governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura, stated that their position is fuelled by speculations and misinformation that their group has abandoned the APC.
Al-Makura, who spoke at a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday, May 8, spoke against the backdrop of trending issue of the resolution by a fragment of the CPC block led by the former governor of Kaduna state, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, to join a coalition of opposition politicians led by the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar.
Al-Makura recalled the formation of the APC, which brought together the CPC, ACN, ANPP, APGA, DPP, and nPDP to defeat President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 and ushered in President Muhammadu Buhari. He emphasised that as founding members, they remain committed to supporting President Tinubu’s administration.
Al-Makura, flanked by top members of the CPC bloc, stated that they were there to reaffirm their commitment to the ideals that brought them together in 2013.
He added that they aimed to set the records straight and send a clear message to Nigerians that the former CPC majority stakeholders remained strong, united, and deeply loyal to the APC and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We are very much here, standing tall, proud, and standing firm within the party that we helped to found through sweat, sacrifice, and patriotic commitment. We remain part and parcel of the APC family,” the group stated.
The former governor of Nasarawa State urged aggrieved bloc members to seek redress within the APC through dialogue, patience, and perseverance.
Also speaking, Farouk Adamu Aliyu, a former House of Representatives minority leader, assured that former President Buhari fully supports President Tinubu, contrary to the impressions created by El-Rufai.
The briefing was attended by notable figures including Katsina State Governor Umar Dikko Radda, former Governor and ex-House Speaker Aminu Bello Masari, and former Lagos State military Governor Buba Marwa, now NDLEA chairman.
Other attendees included APC North West National Vice Chairman Garba Datti Muhammed, Babale Ila, Lanre Tejiosho, Okono Obla, Osita Okechukwu, Abu Ibrahim, and Umaru Kurfi.
The ICIR reported recently that the presidency had responded to the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC by mocking former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor El-Rufai, and other opposition leaders over their planned coalition to unseat President Tinubu in 2027.
The ICIR reported that the Delta State governor, his predecessor and PDP members in the state defected from to the APC on Wednesday, April 23.
Oborevwori announced the defection through his Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu.
Responding to the defection on X, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, wrote that the coalition, which also has a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and Tinubu’s former Special Adviser on Political Matters, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who has resigned, was bound to collapse.
Also, in his reaction on X, a presidential aide, Tunde Rahman said the future looked so bleak for Abubakar’s coalition.
A reporter with the ICIR
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