The recent visit of some former Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) state chairmen to Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria, has sparked controversy and exposed internal divisions within the group. While Atiku publicized the visit as a sign of growing support for his potential 2027 presidential bid, the Forum of State Chairmen of the defunct CPC quickly distanced itself from the meeting, emphasizing that it represented the personal decisions of a few individuals and not the collective stance of the group. This public disavowal underscores the ongoing political maneuvering and realignments taking place in the Nigerian political landscape.
The Forum clarified that only 16 of its 37 members have pledged support for Atiku, while the majority, 20 members, remain committed to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu. This division within the former CPC bloc highlights the complexities of political loyalty and the influence of personal ambitions and external pressures. The Forum’s statement suggests that financial inducements and other forms of persuasion from opposition figures have played a role in swaying some members away from the APC. This claim sheds light on the behind-the-scenes maneuvering and the potential for political opportunism in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
The Forum’s statement also revealed a deep-seated sense of marginalization and neglect within the CPC bloc of the APC. They argue that despite their crucial role in mobilizing grassroots support for President Muhammadu Buhari, which led to the CPC’s significant contribution to the APC’s electoral success, they have been consistently overlooked and sidelined. This perceived lack of recognition and reward has fueled resentment and created an opening for opposition figures like Atiku to exploit their grievances and potentially lure them away from the ruling party.
The Forum contends that the visit to Atiku’s residence was a deliberate attempt to create a false impression of widespread support for the former Vice President. They accuse those who met with Atiku of misrepresenting the views of the majority of the Forum and attempting to inflate the significance of their personal decisions. This highlights the strategic use of political optics and the importance of controlling narratives in the competitive landscape of Nigerian politics. The Forum’s insistence on clarifying their position underscores their desire to maintain their influence and relevance within the APC.
Despite their grievances, the Forum of State Chairmen reaffirmed their loyalty to the APC and expressed their continued support for the leadership of the defunct CPC bloc within the party. This declaration of loyalty, however, is coupled with a strong call for the Presidency and the APC leadership to address their concerns and acknowledge their contributions to the party’s success. They emphasized their historical role in building the CPC’s grassroots structure and delivering crucial votes for Buhari, implying that their continued support for the APC should not be taken for granted.
The internal divisions within the former CPC bloc and the Forum’s public airing of their grievances present a challenge for the APC and President Tinubu. The Forum’s statement serves as a warning that neglecting the concerns of key party members can create vulnerability to opposition overtures and potentially weaken the party’s base. Their call for greater recognition and inclusion highlights the importance of internal party dynamics and the need for strategic management of different factions to maintain unity and cohesion. The APC’s response to these concerns will be crucial in shaping the political landscape in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
