₦airaland Forum

Concerns over the potential exit of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc from the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been amplified following a recent meeting between former President Muhammadu Buhari and APC governors.

The visit, which took place on Monday in Kaduna, was initially perceived as a routine courtesy call but has since sparked speculation about its deeper purpose.

It was gathered that the governors reportedly sought Buhari’s intervention to halt defections from the party, particularly by key members of the CPC bloc.

The governors’ appeal reportedly arose from growing concerns about potential defections ahead of the 2027 general elections. The defunct CPC, a key bloc within APC, remains highly influential, with Buhari regarded as its central figure.

There are fears within APC that the exit of this bloc could spell disaster for the party on a national scale.

The Monday meeting took place amid a wave of defections by Buhari’s allies from APC to SDP. Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai was the first to publicly announce his departure, claiming he had secured Buhari’s blessing before leaving the party.

Several former ministers who served in Buhari’s cabinet are also reportedly finalising plans to join the SDP, and in Buhari’s home state of Katsina, numerous APC members have already defected to the SDP.

The CPC, founded in 2009, merged in February 2013 with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to form what is now known as the APC.

A source told Daily Trust that the governors feared Buhari’s enduring cult-like followership in the North could become a major liability for APC if he backs his CPC associates. His bloc vote, they feared, could be catastrophic for the party in 2027.

It was gathered that the governors specifically urged Buhari to dissuade his CPC associates from leaving APC. However, the former president reportedly declined to make any such commitment. While reaffirming his loyalty to APC, he insisted that others must be allowed to make their own political choices—a principle he said he has upheld throughout his political career.

This stance aligned with a statement issued after El-Rufai’s defection to SDP, where El-Rufai claimed he had informed Buhari beforehand.

“Without referring to any individual, a cast of characters or issues, principles and ideals currently being discussed by party leaders at various levels, the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, has reiterated what he said time and again in the past: that he is a member of APC and would like to be addressed as a loyal member of the party,” a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu, read in part.

Buhari also said he wanted to leave no doubt about his continued allegiance to the party that gave him two terms in office, pledging to do whatever he could to promote it.

“I am an APC member, and I like to be addressed as such. I will try to popularise the party by all means,” he said.

He further noted that the sacrifices made by the founding fathers to establish a strong party committed to constitutional governance and democracy should be preserved.

El-Rufai’s defection, along with his claim that he informed Buhari beforehand, fuelled speculation about a mass defection of the entire CPC bloc within APC, raising concerns about the party’s future.

Consequently, the APC governors’ visit to Buhari was seen as timely, as the party grapples with internal strife and external pressures ahead of the 2027 elections. The APC has been battling internal disputes, including disagreements over the selection process for the party’s presidential candidate.

In 2022, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) adopted indirect primaries for choosing its presidential candidate, rejecting a consensus arrangement. This decision was particularly unpopular among members of the CPC bloc, to which Buhari belonged before the formation of APC on 6 February 2013.

The potential defections of key figures like Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Abubakar Malami, and others could further weaken APC, especially if they defect to another party. This possibility is believed to have prompted the governors’ urgent outreach to Buhari.

Buhari’s decision to stay out of the matter may be viewed as consistent with his longstanding position on individual political freedom. However, it also underscores the uncertainty surrounding APC’s future as it navigates these internal challenges.

Putinofrussia:
Worse than this was written before 2023 elections.
As Nigeria is bouncing back economically,which will trickle down to the masses massively soonest.
No pain,no gain.
Tinubu will still win with a landslide.

Bendeco02:
When he writes result and other regions rejects it. He has no power

He was able to manipulate last one because Northern leaders supported him as he rigged in their region

Do you remember these threads last year?

https://www.nairaland.com/8175124/northern-apc-cpc-anpp-pull

https://www.nairaland.com/8177366/re-northern-apc-pulling-out

Putinofrussia:
Worse than this was written before 2023 elections.
As Nigeria is bouncing back economically,which will trickle down to the masses massively soonest.
No pain,no gain.
The devilish congregation was more than this in 2023.
Tinubu will still win with a landslide.

NGsultan:
● It was gathered that the governors specifically urged Buhari to dissuade his CPC associates from leaving APC. However, the former president reportedly declined to make any such commitment.

● This stance aligned with a statement issued after El-Rufai’s defection to SDP, where El-Rufai claimed he had informed Buhari beforehand.



https://dailytrust.com/after-govs-visit-to-buhari-concerns-over-cpc-blocs-potential-exit-from-apc-heighten/

Bendeco02:
Current APC is yoruba party.

Why should any reasonable politician from other region even support them?

When it's time for appointment they appoint mainly yorubas in all the sensitive positions.

If truely that North voted for tinubu,he would have shared the appointments 50:50 between west and north. But he knows how he became the president today, so i don't blame him totally but foolish northern politicians thay worked for him.

Och77:
I know south west can deliver for Tinubu alone 💯. Let's go there

AMINDA:
Don't worry. Garba Shehu said Buhari will deliver the North to Tinubu in 2027. Buhari who asked electorates to vote their conscience in an election he was contesting in. Why would 2027 be different? Watch them flood this thread saying Buhari and the North are not relevant. That's their new slogan. No-one is relevant except Tinubu and his lagos boys. We will all learn politics together.

AndroBlaze:
So a thief like Malami that has never won an election and a Chukwuma that I have never heard of are now the KEY heavyweights....man some people are really clutching at straws

NGsultan:
● It was gathered that the governors specifically urged Buhari to dissuade his CPC associates from leaving APC. However, the former president reportedly declined to make any such commitment.

● This stance aligned with a statement issued after El-Rufai’s defection to SDP, where El-Rufai claimed he had informed Buhari beforehand.



https://dailytrust.com/after-govs-visit-to-buhari-concerns-over-cpc-blocs-potential-exit-from-apc-heighten/

tuoyoojo:
Hehehehe

I am not a tilumbu supporter but its important to know that at this time "T", condition "C", the votes of the electorates doesn't determine election winners. It is inec (voter counters) and the judiciary that determines that

As long as tilumbu would be the one to pick inec chairman, and the judiciary being what it is now......

It is pointless going against tilumbu. If he was able to take power despite him not being in command and the antagonism of bubu bloc , is it now that he is in power that he would relinquish it

NGsultan:
● It was gathered that the governors specifically urged Buhari to dissuade his CPC associates from leaving APC. However, the former president reportedly declined to make any such commitment.

● This stance aligned with a statement issued after El-Rufai’s defection to SDP, where El-Rufai claimed he had informed Buhari beforehand.



https://dailytrust.com/after-govs-visit-to-buhari-concerns-over-cpc-blocs-potential-exit-from-apc-heighten/

The potential defections of key figures like Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Abubakar Malami, and others could further weaken APC, especially if they defect to another party. This possibility is believed to have prompted the governors’ urgent outreach to Buhari