Former state chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) have rejected reports linking them to the endorsement of ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 presidential race.
The Forum of CPC State Chairmen said only a handful of its members visited Atiku recently and insisted that the move was misleading. According to them, the gathering was stage-managed to create a false impression of “widespread support.”
This was contained in a statement signed by leaders of the Forum. They explained that while some members had shifted allegiance, the majority of them remain firmly with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Tinubu’s administration.
“We wish to categorically state that 20 members of the group remain committed to the All Progressives Congress… as we speak, however, 20 of us remain unwavering,” the statement read.
The Forum admitted that opposition leaders had lured some of their members with promises of financial inducements, leading to defections in recent months.
They, however, lamented what they described as neglect of the CPC bloc by both the Presidency and the APC leadership. The group warned that their continued marginalization was dangerous, noting that the CPC structure played a key role in delivering millions of votes during the Buhari era.
The statement added that they remain loyal to the leadership of the CPC bloc led by Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
“We remain loyal, patient, but firm in our resolve to demand better patronage,” the Forum said, while calling on the President to address their grievances.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the CPC, one of the blocs that merged to form the APC in 2013, has repeatedly raised concerns of neglect. The group says it has been sidelined in key appointments and excluded from major decisions under the current administration.