By Peter Omopo
As political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum, former state chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) have reaffirmed their allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing loyalty to former President Muhammadu Buhari as the main reason for staying in the ruling party.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the forum’s National Secretary, Sulaiman Oyaremi, the ex-CPC leaders said their decision to remain in the APC was guided by respect for Buhari’s leadership, even as they raised concerns over marginalisation within the party.
“Except for a few of us, we are unanimous in our decision to remain in the party with our principal, former President Muhammadu Buhari,” the statement read. “We owe it to ourselves to support the current leader of the party, President Bola Tinubu, and contribute to building an inclusive APC where all stakeholders feel a sense of belonging.”
The forum expressed dissatisfaction over what it described as poor representation and lack of inclusion of former CPC members in key government positions and party structures at both national and state levels.
“Members of the defunct CPC, especially former state chairmen, have not been treated fairly in government appointments or party structures,” the group lamented.
Amid speculations that some former CPC elements might be plotting an alliance with opposition figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, the forum disassociated itself from any such plans.
The CPC, one of the legacy parties that merged in 2013 to form the APC, was led by Buhari prior to the merger.
