Loyalists to the former presidential candidate, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2023 general elections who are members of the All Progressives Party (APC) have thrown their support to Atiku.
At a private meeting in Abuja, state chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Buhari’s original party, met at Atiku’s Abuja residence to chart a way forward for national development.
Atiku, who is spearheading efforts to build a broad coalition under the African Democratic Congress, ADC, hosted the delegation and pledged to work with them to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.
The CPC bloc, long regarded as Buhari’s most loyal political base, accused the current administration of abandoning the ideals that had united the coalition, which brought APC to power in 2015.
One of the leaders said, “Bring it out, make it visible. Politics does not operate in the corner; bring your politics out. That is essentially what we are here to emphasise.
“We are the true followers of Buhari; and we are here today, Sir. When this coalition started, we identified early on with the party we wanted to align with. My leader, I want to assure and reassure you of our commitment. The CPC bloc is intact. President Buhari has left an unprecedented mark on the history of this country, and we will not allow it to be lost.
“We are now ready to merge into the new political platform that God has chosen for us, appointing you as the leader, that platform now being the ADC”.
Their declaration of allegiance to Atiku heightens tensions within APC and could tilt the balance of power ahead of 2027, especially in the North, where Buhari retains significant grassroots influence.
Another CPC leader, drawing comparisons between Buhari’s era and the present, said the current faces in government do not represent the movement’s original values.
In his response, Atiku welcomed the move, describing it as a step towards building a formidable alliance capable of challenging the APC’s dominance.
He urged the delegation to mobilise their supporters to take part in the ongoing voter registration exercise, calling it critical to shaping the outcome of the next elections.
The meeting signals the opening moves in what could become one of Nigeria’s most consequential political realignments since the APC’s formation a decade ago.
