A forum of former state chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) has restated its loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and dismissed recent speculation of a planned coalition involving CPC stakeholders and opposition figures ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the forum’s National Secretary, Sulaiman Oyaremi, said the group considered it a responsibility to support President Tinubu and contribute to building a more inclusive All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We believe that we owe ourselves a duty to support the current leader of the party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and contribute to the transformation of APC into an inclusive institution where all stakeholders would have a sense of belonging and ownership,” Oyaremi said.
Speculations have recently suggested that key figures from the CPC bloc could align with opposition leaders including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in a potential coalition against President Tinubu.
However, on April 16, some ex-CPC members, led by former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura, publicly distanced themselves from the claims and reiterated their support for Tinubu and the APC. This prompted a response from former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), who on April 17 stated that Al-Makura and his group lacked the authority to speak for the entire CPC bloc.
Addressing the internal disagreements, Oyaremi pointed out the lack of a single, recognized leadership within the former CPC faction.
He stated that the presence of multiple groups claiming to represent the defunct party has revealed a deficiency in unified leadership.
Furthermore, he expressed concern that this situation suggests a potential absence of inclusivity within the APC leadership and the government that resulted from it.
The forum also voiced concerns over the treatment of its members, particularly former state chairmen, whom they said have not been adequately recognised in terms of appointments or party roles.
“It is a self-evident reality that members of the defunct CPC, especially former state chairmen of the legacy party, have not been treated fairly either through government appointments or party apparatus both at the national and state levels, their contributions to the electoral successes of the party notwithstanding,” the statement read.
The forum acknowledged that individuals have the prerogative to either stay in or depart from the APC. However, clarifying its own position, the forum stated that as members representing the state chairmen of the former CPC, they hold no resentment towards those who have chosen to leave the APC.
They further declared, unequivocally, that with the exception of a small number, they are united in their decision to remain within the party alongside their leader, former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The forum also urged President Tinubu and APC-led governments to shift focus from electoral concerns to the pressing issues affecting Nigerians.
“We also want to use this medium to call the attention of the President to the multifarious challenges that Nigerians face. The high level of insecurity and economic hardship are becoming existential threats to many citizens. It is, therefore, important that the President, APC governments at all levels and the leadership of the party give these challenges the desired attention. These issues of governance, rather than the 2027 elections, should constitute our priority as we move closer to the second anniversary of the current government,” the statement added.
