CPC group affirms loyalty to APC, Tinubu amid defection speculations

Leaders and prominent members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), led by former Nasarawa State governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, have reaffirmed their loyalty to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This followed growing speculation about the potential defection of the CPC bloc from the APC, […]

Leaders and prominent members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), led by former Nasarawa State governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, have reaffirmed their loyalty to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This followed growing speculation about the potential defection of the CPC bloc from the APC, particularly after the recent exit of former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, who joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Daily Trust reports that concerns about a coordinated exit by CPC figures heightened after separate meetings were held between former President Muhammadu Buhari and APC governors, as well as with members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Although the visits were described as routine courtesy calls, they were widely interpreted as efforts to enlist Buhari’s intervention in halting high-profile defections, especially from his core allies, many of whom are linked to the defunct CPC.

El-Rufai’s defection, which he publicly announced, further fuelled the speculation. He reportedly stated that he consulted and received Buhari’s blessing before leaving the APC.

Several former ministers who served under the Buhari administration are also believed to be finalising plans to join the SDP. In Katsina State, the former president’s home base, multiple APC members have already moved to the SDP.

Founded in 2009, the CPC was among the legacy parties that merged in February 2013 to form the APC. The other major parties in the merger were the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

Call for unity and patience

In a press statement issued yesterday and signed by Al-Makura, former Katsina governor Aminu Bello Masari, and 21 other prominent former CPC figures, the bloc expressed their firm support for the APC and the current administration.

“We, the undersigned leaders and dedicated members of the CPC, instrumental in the historic merger that birthed the APC, issue this statement to reaffirm our unwavering loyalty to our great party and express our strong solidarity with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” the statement read.

Signatories of the statement include: former Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu; former CPC Senator for Niger North (2011 to 2015), Ibrahim Musa; the party’s former deputy national chairman, Senator Mustapha Salihu; its former National Organising Secretary, ​Alhaji Yusuf Salihu; its former National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu; its former National Auditor, Captain Bala Jibrin and former National Legal Adviser, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla.

Others who signed include: former House of Representatives member Farouk Adamu Aliyu, Hon. Almajiri Geidam, Arc. Waziri Bulama, Dr Nasiru Ladan Argungu, Dominic Alancha, Hon. Ayuba Balami, Hon. Lucy Ajayi, Hon. Uche Ufearoh, Hon. Abubakar Maikudi, Engr. Mutallib Badmus, Alhaji Muhammed Ahmed Datti, Hon. Muhammed Etsu, Chief Jerry Johnson, and Alhaji Alkali Ajikolo.

“Recent misleading narratives suggesting a defection or disaffection among CPC stakeholders are false, mischievous, and should be ignored. We remain integral to the APC and are fully aligned with its leadership and vision,” the statement said.

The bloc reaffirmed their identity as founding members of the APC and expressed pride in the sacrifices made during the party’s formation.

“We take pride in the sacrifices made to build a platform that promotes national unity, justice, and development. We will not allow some people to dismantle the party we helped to build through years of tireless work and dedication,” it added.

They stated that efforts aimed at creating division within the APC and in the broader polity do not represent the true position of the CPC core.

The group expressed support for President Tinubu’s reform agenda and urged patience from the public as the administration continues to implement its economic and governance policies.

Appeal to party leadership

Addressing grievances by some party members, the CPC bloc acknowledged that concerns about marginalisation are not unique to any single bloc within the APC and urged aggrieved members to use internal party mechanisms for redress.

“While we acknowledge that some party members may feel sidelined, we emphasise that such grievances are not exclusive to any one bloc. We advise those concerned to seek redress through constitutional channels within the party and not to resort to negative public agitation or hasty exits from the party,” the statement said.

The leaders also called for renewed efforts to strengthen party unity, particularly at a time when internal cohesion is essential for the APC to consolidate its legacy.

They further urged the APC leadership to prioritise increased engagement across all levels of the party to foster unity and reduce internal tensions.

Why we disagree with El-Rufai’s perspective – Farouk Adamu Aliyu

Adding his perspective, Farouk Adamu Aliyu, an ally of Buhari since their ANPP day, faulted claims that members of the defunct CPC were planning to leave the party along with El-Rufai.

Aliyu, a former House of Representatives Minority Leader and one of the signatories to the recent pro-Tinubu statement by former CPC members, said there was no such plan to dump the APC.

“It’s not true that members of the defunct CPC were planning to leave. There is nothing like members of the defunct CPC wanting to move out of the APC,” he said.

“Our certificate, the certificate of CPC, was part of what formed APC. So, how can we leave? To go where? This is our party.”

Aliyu said El-Rufai, who recently distanced himself from the APC, had been at the forefront of those considering exiting the party.

“El-Rufai has been the arrowhead of people wanting to leave and he has left, which is alright. So far, he is the only one we know that has left. But you cannot ignore him or call him a nobody,” he said.

Aliyu criticised the former governor for turning against President Tinubu after he failed to secure a ministerial appointment.

“We the elites of this country are simply not being fair to the people. My friend El-Rufai came out when Tinubu wanted to be president. He led the governors of the North, insulted everybody. He went with Tinubu. All of us went with Tinubu.

“He was promised a ministerial position and something happened, he didn’t get it. All of a sudden Tinubu is a bad man? That is why I said we the elites are not being fair. Everything is all about ‘him’.

“As a Muslim, he should try to be content. He should accept that what God wills will happen.”

Aliyu used his own experience to drive home the point, noting that despite being a founding member of the Buhari support group, he never got a political appointment during Buhari’s two terms.

“I was the returning officer for Buhari in 2014. My state, Jigawa, and Kano did not vote for him to be candidate. It was this same Tinubu that some of them are insulting today that rallied round people from the Southwest and other places he could.

“I was given an aircraft by Fashola to go and bring delegates from Jigawa for Buhari. Buhari got elected with Tinubu’s assistance, and now that Tinubu is in government, he doesn’t like the North? Come off it! It’s we the elites. It’s elites fighting and the masses need to understand this.”

Aliyu also warned against allowing elite politics to polarise the masses, citing the ongoing crisis in Plateau State.

“Look at what is happening in Plateau where the masses are killing themselves because of the ember of hatred fanned by the elites. So, we the elites, whenever we are not in charge, we try to bring down the roof.

“My brother El-Rufai should not be complaining after being governor for eight years. But if he is to complain, he should come out and complain about not being made minister,” he said.

He noted that El-Rufai’s current disputes with both the Kaduna State governor and the federal government showed a pattern of intolerance to dissent or disappointment.

Another signatory to the statement, who spoke off the record, said while they acknowledged that not everything was going perfectly under Tinubu, they believed he should be given more time.

“Things are not going as good as they ought to,” the source said. “But we felt that Tinubu deserved to be given enough time. El-Rufai and those aligned with his thoughts are not being fair to Tinubu after eight years of Buhari.”

Response follows media commentary

The intervention from the CPC bloc came two days after former governor El-Rufai shared an opinion article on social media authored by Dalhatu Danzago, who identified as a member of the defunct CPC.

In the article, Danzago criticised the Tinubu administration’s approach to party inclusion, accusing it of sidelining former CPC loyalists while embracing figures he described as “black sheep” of the bloc.

He alleged that these individuals were being elevated to project an image of support from the CPC bloc despite no longer enjoying its backing.

Danzago further claimed that the leadership composition in both the executive and legislative arms of government showed signs of excluding CPC affiliates. According to him, this has caused disaffection not only among the bloc’s leaders but also among voters who had backed Tinubu in the 2023 elections.

He concluded that some individuals planning to speak on behalf of the CPC bloc were doing so for personal reasons and could not be considered authentic representatives of its faithful.