As preparations for 2027 are gradually picking up, a leaked memo has revealed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s plan to draft a close ally of former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Umaru Tanko Al Makura, to convince the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc to remain in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Formed in February 2013, Tribune Online recalled that the initiative of the party, APC, is the result of a merger of Nigeria’s three largest opposition parties, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) along with a breakaway faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the new PDP, a faction of the then ruling People’s Democratic Party.

The move by the President comes after failed attempts by the Progressive Governors’ Forum, APC national chairman, Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to convince former President Buhari to intervene against the expected exit of the CPC bloc from the party.

To forestall the exit of the CPC bloc from the APC, it was gathered that President Tinubu had offered Al Makura a potential chairmanship position in the APC if he successfully convinces Buhari to persuade his loyalists to stay in the party (APC). This development comes as notable figures like former vice president Atiku Abubakar, former governors Nasir el Rufai, Aminu Tambuwal, Achike Udenwa amongst others are exploring alternatives political platforms ahead of the 2027 polls recently visited Buhari citing dissatisfaction with Tinubu’s governance.

However, a memo signed by Al Makura (as coordinating chairman) and Mr Osita Okechukwu (the coordinating secretary of the CPC bloc) has reportedly called an emergency meeting for Monday, April 14, 2025 to address the press saying the former President has agreed to keep his followers in the APC.

According to Al Makura, the CPC bloc is not for once considering the APC and will rather join President Tinubu to fix the country for the good of the citizens.

“In league with our leader President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, we core members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) nationwide wish to state and confirm unequivocally that we are staying tall and not leaving our great party, the APC.

“Yes, we appreciate the setting that as we approach major election, that it is normal for gathering storm by over ambitious politicians to surface; for us it is a storm in a tea-cup.

“We rate it storm in a tea-cup, not only because they have no better program, but that it is storm emanating mostly from within the ranks of those who failed woefully to organise their party effectively for the 2023 presidential election and that violently breached the rotation convention of president from north to south and vice versa.

“We represent the majority members of the defunct CPC and without being immodest the grassroots, who with nostalgia remember, vividly how President Tinubu and other compatriots worked very hard to forge the historic, unique and victorious APC merger in 2013

“Accordingly, it is our considered view that we cannot join desperados to destroy the APC, a house we laboured for years to build, a formidable platform constructed by our good people; rather than quit, we resolved to join hands with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to fix our system for the good of greatest number Nigerians.

“We support Mr. President’s economic reform programs, which are phenomenal and reckon that you cannot make an omelette without breaking the egg, therefore we are hopeful that sooner than later the fruits of the economic reform programs will ease the pains and usher in progress and prosperity to the greatest number of Nigerians.

“Therefore, in good conscience we have vehemently refused to demolish the APC house we contributed immensely to construct and stand by President Tinubu as one of the legacy parties.”

The CPC bloc, comprising notable figures like former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami; former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and former Minister of State, Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, has been considering leaving the APC due to disagreements with Tinubu’s administration.

This potential exodus is seen as a significant blow to the party’s chances in the 2027 presidential election. (Nigerian Tribune)