₦airaland Forum

The All Progressives Congress and governors elected under the party are actively working to stop former President Muhammadu Buhari and his loyalists from aligning with opposition figures, Sunday PUNCH has learnt.

According to an insider at the APC National Secretariat, this is the reason behind the visits of the National Working Committee and APC governors to Buhari at his residence in Kaduna State.

Beyond the claim of a Sallah visit, the credible source stated that the NWC and the APC governors visited Buhari over growing concern that the ‘body language’ of the former president was not in favour of the party.

"The leaders are concerned that the ex-president has withdrawn and shown limited support for the current government. They observed that opposition figures have taken advantage of Buhari’s openness to create the impression that his spirit and body language are no longer with the APC. That is why the NWC had to visit him to show that he still belongs to the APC and ward off any negative impression among party members, especially from his followers in the North.

"Importantly, the party acknowledges that the North is uncomfortable with President Bola Tinubu’s administration and is clearly planning not to support his second term. The APC leadership decided to dissuade the former president from making himself available to opposition figures who have been visiting him,” the impeccable source said.

The insider told Sunday PUNCH that the APC leadership had taken “Buhari’s body language more seriously,” noting that they could not afford to let the opposition “hijack” him from them.

He said, “The party leaders have realised that there is fire on the mountain, and they have begun to move closer to Buhari than before. The body language of the former president clearly shows that his spirit is no longer with the APC. They are now taking his actions and inactions more seriously. The leaders are trying to ensure that the APC doesn’t lose Buhari and his followers to the strategic moves of the likes of Atiku.”


Coalition befriends Buhari

Buhari’s residence in Kaduna has become a sort of Mecca since the Eid-il-Fitr celebrations, especially following reports that the Congress for Progressive Change bloc of the APC and some former ministers who served under the ex-president were planning to defect to the Social Democratic Party.

One of Buhari’s loyalists and former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, defected to the SDP on March 15, citing a growing misalignment between his personal values and the current direction of the APC as the primary reason for his decision.

El-Rufai, a vocal critic of President Tinubu’s administration, revealed that he sought Buhari’s approval before leaving the APC.

Sunday PUNCH had reported that leading Buhari’s loyalists in the defections were the former National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu, and former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Following the report, APC governors visited Buhari on April 7 and held a closed-door meeting with him.

The governors reportedly pleaded with Buhari to halt the defections, promising that the party would address the grievances of his loyalists.

However, three days later (April 11), opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and governors of Kaduna and Sokoto states, Nasir El-Rufai and Aminu Tambuwal, among other notable politicians, also visited Buhari.

Atiku, speaking to journalists at Buhari’s residence, said the visit was for Sallah homage, explaining that it was not part of any opposition coalition talks.

“We came here on courtesy and Sallah greetings visit to President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

When asked about plans to form a major opposition party, Atiku acknowledged ongoing discussions but made it clear that this was not the purpose of the visit.

“There is a plan for the major political parties to come together and form a strong opposition, but it is not part of this visit,” Atiku stated.

Also speaking during the visit, El-Rufai said the meeting had no political undertones, advising “adversaries” not to lose sleep over it.

However, in a swift move, the APC NWC, led by the party Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, stormed Buhari’s residence a few hours after the opposition leaders left.

Addressing journalists after the visit, Ganduje said the APC was not worried by Atiku’s visit, describing it as another attempt to repeat history.

“What they are trying to build is not viable. Some particles simply cannot come together. We are not worried at all,” he stated.

Ganduje explained that the APC leaders visited Buhari to brief him on the party’s progress since his exit from office and to reaffirm their commitment to upholding his legacy.

Although all political figures involved in the visit described it as mere Sallah homage, there are indications that both the ruling party and opposition leaders are courting the former president’s support.

Buhari’s influence in the North has been a significant strength for the APC, which is now facing growing resentment from northerners.

This is as the former president maintained that he remained with the APC and would forever appreciate the party for giving him the platform to be a two-term president.

Salewa97:
Buhari is the best president Nigeria ever had. His influence will be felt for years to come.

Those trying to woo him now will soon realize it was all a waste of time. He is a man of principles and will always stick with the party that gave him the platform to serve.

ImpartialGuy:
Like people say, if they explain Nigeria to you and you clearly understand it, then they didn't properly explain it to you.

Despite Buhari being a monumental disaster in the leadership circus, he's still very influential in party politics and Northern Nigeria. I can't wrap my head around this!

ImpartialGuy:
Like people say, if they explain Nigeria to you and you clearly understand it, then they didn't properly explain it to you.

Despite Buhari being a monumental disaster in the leadership circus, he's still very influential in party politics and Northern Nigeria. I can't wrap my head around this!

UncleKoboko:


Of all people, it's Buharì:
A USELESS
FAILED
CORRUPT
TRIBALISTIC
NEPOTISTIC
and
SENILĒ WASTE OF A MAN!

A MAN WHO TOOK THE COUNTRY ABACK BY AT LEAST 30 YEARS.

Kuginzi:
https://punchng.com/2027-apc-anti-tinubu-coalition-battle-for-buharis-support/